O blind to truth, and God's whole scheme below, Who fancy bliss to vice,[1447] to virtue woe! Who sees and follows that great scheme the best, 95 Best knows the blessing, and will most be blessed. But fools the good alone unhappy call, For ills or accidents that chance to all. See Falkland dies, the virtuous and the just! See god-like Turenne prostrate on the dust! 100 See Sidney bleeds amid the martial strife! Was this their virtue, or contempt of life?[1448] Say, was it virtue, more though heav'n ne'er gave, Lamented Digby![1449] sunk thee to the grave?[1450] Tell me, if virtue made the son expire, 105 Why, full of days and honour, lives the sire?[1451] Why drew Marseilles' good bishop[1452] purer breath, When nature sickened, and each gale was death?[1453] Or why so long (in life if long can be)[1454] Lent heav'n a parent to the poor and me?[1455] 110 What makes all physical or moral ill? There deviates nature, and here wanders will. God sends not ill, if rightly understood, Or partial ill is universal good, Or change admits, or nature lets it fall 115 Short, and but rare, till man improved it all.[1456] We just as wisely might of heav'n complain, That righteous Abel was destroyed by Cain, As that the virtuous son is ill at ease When his lewd father gave the dire disease. 120 Think we, like some weak prince, th' Eternal Cause, Prone for his fav'rites to reverse his laws?[1457] Shall burning Ætna, if a sage requires,[1458] Forget to thunder, and recall her fires?[1459] On air or sea new motions be impressed,[1460] 125 O blameless Bethel! to relieve thy breast?[1461] When the loose mountain trembles from on high, Shall gravitation cease if you go by?[1462] Or some old temple nodding to its fall, For Chartres' head reserve the hanging wall?[1463] 130 But still this world, so fitted for the knave, Contents us not. A better shall we have? A kingdom of the just then let it be:[1464] But first consider how those just agree. The good must merit God's peculiar care; 135 But who, but God, can tell us who they are? One thinks on Calvin heav'n's own Spirit fell; Another deems him instrument of hell; If Calvin feel heav'n's blessing, or its rod, This cries there is, and that, there is no God.[1465] 140 What shocks one part will edify the rest,[1466] Nor with one system can they all be blessed.[1467] The very best will variously incline,[1468] And what rewards your virtue, punish mine. Whatever is, is right.[1469] This world, 'tis true, 145 Was made for Cæsar, but for Titus too:[1470]