Her wild belief on every wave is toss'd; 430 But sure no Church can better morals boast: True to her king her principles are found; O that her practice were but half so sound! Steadfast in various turns of state she stood, And seal'd her vow'd affection with her blood: Nor will I meanly tax her constancy, That interest or obligement made the tie Bound to the fate of murder'd monarchy. Before the sounding axe so falls the vine, Whose tender branches round the poplar twine. 440 She chose her ruin, and resign'd her life, In death undaunted as an Indian wife: A rare example! but some souls we see Grow hard, and stiffen with adversity: Yet these by fortune's favours are undone; Resolved into a baser form they run, And bore the wind, but cannot bear the sun. Let this be nature's frailty, or her fate, Or Isgrim's[106] counsel, her new-chosen mate; Still she's the fairest of the fallen crew, 450 No mother more indulgent, but the true. Fierce to her foes, yet fears her force to try, Because she wants innate authority; For how can she constrain them to obey, Who has herself cast off the lawful sway? Rebellion equals all, and those who toil In common theft, will share the common spoil. Let her produce the title and the right Against her old superiors first to fight; If she reform by text, even that's as plain 460 For her own rebels to reform again. As long as words a different sense will bear, And each may be his own interpreter, Our airy faith will no foundation find: The word's a weathercock for every wind: The Bear, the Fox, the Wolf, by turns prevail; The most in power supplies the present gale. The wretched Panther cries aloud for aid To Church and Councils, whom she first betray'd; No help from Fathers or Tradition's train: 470 Those ancient guides she taught us to disdain, And, by that Scripture, which she once abused To reformation, stands herself accused. What bills for breach of laws can she prefer, Expounding which she owns herself may err? And, after all her winding ways are tried, If doubts arise, she slips herself aside, And leaves the private conscience for the guide. If then that conscience set the offender free, It bars her claim to Church authority. 480 How can she censure, or what crime pretend, But Scripture may be construed to defend? Even those, whom for rebellion she transmits 483 To civil power, her doctrine first acquits; Because no disobedience can ensue, Where no submission to a judge is due; Each judging for himself, by her consent, Whom thus absolved she sends to punishment. Suppose the magistrate revenge her cause, 'Tis only for transgressing human laws. 490 How answering to its end a Church is made, Whose power is but to counsel and persuade?