Who interposed, what digits were obscured: Of all which are already passed away, We know the rise, the progress, and decay. Despair at our foundations then to strike, Till you can prove your faith apostolic; A limpid stream drawn from the native source; Succession lawful in a lineal course. Prove any church, opposed to this our head, So one, so pure, so unconfinedly spread, Under one chief of the spiritual state, The members all combined, and all subordinate; Show such a seamless coat, from schism so free, In no communion joined with heresy;-- If such a one you find, let truth prevail; } Till when, your weights will in the balance fail;} A church unprincipled kicks up the scale. } But if you cannot think, (nor sure you can Suppose in God what were unjust in man,) That He, the fountain of eternal grace, } Should suffer falsehood for so long a space} To banish truth, and to usurp her place; } That seven successive ages should be lost, And preach damnation at their proper cost;[173] That all your erring ancestors should die, Drowned in the abyss of deep idolatry; If piety forbid such thoughts to rise, Awake, and open your unwilling eyes: God hath left nothing for each age undone, } From this to that wherein he sent his Son; } Then think but well of him, and half your work is done.} See how his church, adorned with every grace, } With open arms, a kind forgiving face, } Stands ready to prevent her long-lost son's embrace!} Not more did Joseph o'er his brethren weep, Nor less himself could from discovery keep, When in the crowd of suppliants they were seen, And in their crew his best-loved Benjamin. That pious Joseph in the church behold, } To feed your famine, and refuse your gold; } The Joseph you exiled, the Joseph whom you sold.[174]} Thus, while with heavenly charity she spoke, A streaming blaze the silent shadows broke; Shot from the skies a cheerful azure light; } The birds obscene to forests winged their flight, } And gaping graves received the wandering guilty sprite.} Such were the pleasing triumphs of the sky, For James his late nocturnal victory; The pledge of his almighty Patron's love, The fireworks which his angels made above.[175] I saw myself the lambent easy light[176] Gild the brown horror, and dispel the night; The messenger with speed the tidings bore; } News, which three labouring nations did restore;} But heaven's own Nuntius was arrived before. } By this, the Hind had reached her lonely cell, And vapours rose, and dews unwholesome fell; When she, by frequent observation wise, } As one who long on heaven had fixed her eyes,} Discerned a change of weather in the skies. }