Ruled by the scripture and his own advice, Each has a blind bye-path to Paradise; Where, driving in a circle slow or fast, Opposing sects are sure to meet at last. A wonderous charity you have in store } For all reformed to pass the narrow door;} So much, that Mahomet had scarcely more. } For he, kind prophet, was for damning none; But Christ and Moses were to save their own: Himself was to secure his chosen race, Though reason good for Turks to take the place, And he allowed to be the better man, In virtue of his holier Alcoran. True, said the Panther, I shall ne'er deny My brethren may be saved as well as I: Though Huguenots condemn our ordination, Succession, ministerial vocation; And Luther, more mistaking what he read, Misjoins the sacred body with the bread:[151] Yet, lady, still remember I maintain, The word in needful points is only plain.-- Needless, or needful, I not now contend, For still you have a loop-hole for a friend, Rejoined the matron; but the rule you lay } Has led whole flocks, and leads them still astray,} In weighty points, and full damnation's way. } For, did not Arius first, Socinus now, The Son's eternal Godhead disavow? And did not these by gospel texts alone Condemn our doctrine, and maintain their own? Have not all heretics the same pretence To plead the scriptures in their own defence? How did the Nicene council then decide That strong debate? was it by scripture tried? No, sure; to that the rebel would not yield; Squadrons of texts he marshalled in the field: That was but civil war, an equal set, Where piles with piles, and eagles eagles met.[152] With texts point-blank and plain he faced the foe, And did not Satan tempt our Saviour so? The good old bishops took a simpler way; Each asked but what he heard his father say, Or how he was instructed in his youth, And by tradition's force upheld the truth.[153] The Panther smiled at this;--And when, said she, Were those first councils disallowed by me? Or where did I at sure tradition strike, Provided still it were apostolic?[154] Friend, said the Hind, you quit your former ground, Where all your faith you did on scripture found: Now 'tis tradition joined with holy writ; But thus your memory betrays your wit. No, said the Panther; for in that I view, When your tradition's forged, and when 'tis true. I set them by the rule, and, as they square,} Or deviate from undoubted doctrine there, } This oral fiction, that old faith declare.--} _Hind._ The council steered, it seems, a different course; They tried the scripture by tradition's force: But you tradition by the scripture try; } Pursued by sects, from this to that you fly,} Nor dare on one foundation to rely. }