Religio Laici Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDDEEFFGGHHIIJJH HHKKLLMMNNOOPPPQQRRH H MMSSTTSSDDHHSSUVSSSS WWSSSSSSHHEESSXXYYZZ HHSA2A2HHB2C2D2O SSE2F2G2G2 H2H2HHDDWWI2I2SS SSSSSSSSJ2J2SSK2K2T VVWWSSSSL2L2M2M2N2N2 SSCCSS O2O2SSSS P2P2I2I2SSSSC2C2SSP2 P2SS O2O2K2K2I2I2Q2Q2K2K2 O2O2SSSS R2R2SSDDI2I2K2K2S2S2 SSSSSSK2K2SSSSSSSS SSSSSSDDSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSVVSSCCSS SSSSSSSS SSSSSSQ2Q2WWVVSSSSSS SSSST2T2 SSSSSS SSJ2J2U2U2SSSSSSSDDV EV2V2SSW2W2 SSJ2J2DDT2T2T2SS SSX2X2DDSSSSSSSST2T2 SSUEM2M2SSYYT2T2SSY2 Y2Z2Z2SSSSSS SSSSV2V2T2T2SSSST2T2 SSYYU2U2Z2Z2A3A3SSSS SSU2F2V2B3SSSSVVSS SSSSDDSSSSSSSSSVVSSC 3C3SSSSX2X2SS D3E3YYT2T2SSDDWWSSX2 X2T2T2DDF3F3T2T2 EESSG3G3

Dim as the borrow'd beams of moon and stars	A
To lonely weary wand'ring travellers	B
Is reason to the soul and as on high	C
Those rolling fires discover but the sky	C
Not light us here so reason's glimmering ray	D
Was lent not to assure our doubtful way	D
But guide us upward to a better day	D
And as those nightly tapers disappear	E
When day's bright lord ascends our hemisphere	E
So pale grows reason at religion's sight	F
So dies and so dissolves in supernatural light	F
Some few whose lamp shone brighter have been led	G
From cause to cause to Nature's secret head	G
And found that one first principle must be	H
But what or who that Universal He	H
Whether some soul incompassing this ball	I
Unmade unmov'd yet making moving all	I
Or various atoms' interfering dance	J
Leapt into form the noble work of chance	J
Or this great all was from eternity	H
Not even the Stagirite himself could see	H
And Epicurus guess'd as well as he	H
As blindly grop'd they for a future state	K
As rashly judg'd of Providence and Fate	K
But least of all could their endeavours find	L
What most concern'd the good of human kind	L
For happiness was never to be found	M
But vanish'd from 'em like enchanted ground	M
One thought content the good to be enjoy'd	N
This every little accident destroy'd	N
The wiser madmen did for virtue toil	O
A thorny or at best a barren soil	O
In pleasure some their glutton souls would steep	P
But found their line too short the well too deep	P
And leaky vessels which no bliss could keep	P
Thus anxious thoughts in endless circles roll	Q
Without a centre where to fix the soul	Q
In this wild maze their vain endeavours end	R
How can the less the greater comprehend	R
Or finite reason reach infinity	H
For what could fathom God were more than He	H
	-
The Deist thinks he stands on firmer ground	M
Cries lang g eur e ka lang e the mighty secret's found	M
God is that spring of good supreme and best	S
We made to serve and in that service blest	S
If so some rules of worship must be given	T
Distributed alike to all by Heaven	T
Else God were partial and to some deny'd	S
The means his justice should for all provide	S
This general worship is to PRAISE and PRAY	D
One part to borrow blessings one to pay	D
And when frail Nature slides into offence	H
The sacrifice for crimes is penitence	H
Yet since th'effects of providence we find	S
Are variously dispens'd to human kind	S
That vice triumphs and virtue suffers here	U
A brand that sovereign justice cannot bear	V
Our reason prompts us to a future state	S
The last appeal from fortune and from fate	S
Where God's all righteous ways will be declar'd	S
The bad meet punishment the good reward	S
	-
Thus man by his own strength to Heaven would soar	W
And would not be oblig'd to God for more	W
Vain wretched creature how art thou misled	S
To think thy wit these god like notions bred	S
These truths are not the product of thy mind	S
But dropt from Heaven and of a nobler kind	S
Reveal'd religion first inform'd thy sight	S
And reason saw not till faith sprung the light	S
Hence all thy natural worship takes the source	H
'Tis revelation what thou think'st discourse	H
Else how com'st thou to see these truths so clear	E
Which so obscure to heathens did appear	E
Not Plato these nor Aristotle found	S
Nor he whose wisdom oracles renown'd	S
Hast thou a wit so deep or so sublime	X
Or canst thou lower dive or higher climb	X
Canst thou by reason more of God head know	Y
Than Plutarch Seneca or Cicero	Y
Those giant wits in happier ages born	Z
When arms and arts did Greece and Rome adorn	Z
Knew no such system no such piles could raise	H
Of natural worship built on pray'r and praise	H
To one sole God	S
Nor did remorse to expiate sin prescribe	A2
But slew their fellow creatures for a bribe	A2
The guiltless victim groan'd for their offence	H
And cruelty and blood was penitence	H
If sheep and oxen could atone for men	B2
Ah at how cheap a rate the rich might sin	C2
And great oppressors might Heaven's wrath beguile	D2
By offering his own creatures for a spoil	O
	-
Dar'st thou poor worm offend Infinity	S
And must the terms of peace be given by thee	S
Then thou art justice in the last appeal	E2
Thy easy God instructs thee to rebel	F2
And like a king remote and weak must take	G2
What satisfaction thou art pleas'd to make	G2
	-
But if there be a pow'r too just and strong	H2
To wink at crimes and bear unpunish'd wrong	H2
Look humbly upward see his will disclose	H
The forfeit first and then the fine impose	H
A mulct thy poverty could never pay	D
Had not Eternal Wisdom found the way	D
And with celestial wealth supply'd thy store	W
His justice makes the fine his mercy quits the score	W
See God descending in thy human frame	I2
Th'offended suff'ring in th'offender's name	I2
All thy misdeeds to him imputed see	S
And all his righteousness devolv'd on thee	S
	-
For granting we have sinn'd and that th'offence	S
Of man is made against omnipotence	S
Some price that bears proportion must be paid	S
And infinite with infinite be weigh'd	S
See then the Deist lost remorse for vice	S
Not paid or paid inadequate in price	S
What farther means can reason now direct	S
Or what relief from human wit expect	S
That shows us sick and sadly are we sure	J2
Still to be sick till Heav'n reveal the cure	J2
If then Heaven's will must needs be understood	S
Which must if we want cure and Heaven be good	S
Let all records of will reveal'd be shown	K2
With Scripture all in equal balance thrown	K2
And our one sacred Book will be that one	T
	-
Proof needs not here for whether we compare	V
That impious idle superstitious ware	V
Of rites lustrations offerings which before	W
In various ages various countries bore	W
With Christian faith and virtues we shall find	S
None answ'ring the great ends of human kind	S
But this one rule of life that shows us best	S
How God may be appeas'd and mortals blest	S
Whether from length of time its worth we draw	L2
The world is scarce more ancient than the law	L2
Heav'n's early care prescrib'd for every age	M2
First in the soul and after in the page	M2
Or whether more abstractedly we look	N2
Or on the writers or the written Book	N2
Whence but from Heav'n could men unskill'd in arts	S
In several ages born in several parts	S
Weave such agreeing truths or how or why	C
Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie	C
Unask'd their pains ungrateful their advice	S
Starving their gain and martyrdom their price	S
	-
If on the Book itself we cast our view	O2
Concurrent heathens prove the story true	O2
The doctrine miracles which must convince	S
For Heav'n in them appeals to human sense	S
And though they prove not they confirm the cause	S
When what is taught agrees with Nature's laws	S
	-
Then for the style majestic and divine	P2
It speaks no less than God in every line	P2
Commanding words whose force is still the same	I2
As the first fiat that produc'd our frame	I2
All faiths beside or did by arms ascend	S
Or sense indulg'd has made mankind their friend	S
This only doctrine does our lusts oppose	S
Unfed by Nature's soil in which it grows	S
Cross to our interests curbing sense and sin	C2
Oppress'd without and undermin'd within	C2
It thrives through pain its own tormentors tires	S
And with a stubborn patience still aspires	S
To what can reason such effects assign	P2
Transcending Nature but to laws divine	P2
Which in that sacred volume are contain'd	S
Sufficient clear and for that use ordain'd	S
	-
But stay the Deist here will urge anew	O2
No supernatural worship can be true	O2
Because a general law is that alone	K2
Which must to all and everywhere be known	K2
A style so large as not this Book can claim	I2
Nor aught that bears reveal'd religion's name	I2
'Tis said the sound of a Messiah's Birth	Q2
Is gone through all the habitable earth	Q2
But still that text must be confin'd alone	K2
To what was then inhabited and known	K2
And what Provision could from thence accrue	O2
To Indian souls and worlds discover'd new	O2
In other parts it helps that ages past	S
The Scriptures there were known and were embrac'd	S
Till sin spread once again the shades of night	S
What's that to these who never saw the light	S
	-
Of all objections this indeed is chief	R2
To startle reason stagger frail belief	R2
We grant 'tis true that Heav'n from human sense	S
Has hid the secret paths of Providence	S
But boundless wisdom boundless mercy may	D
Find ev'n for those bewilder'd souls a way	D
If from his nature foes may pity claim	I2
Much more may strangers who ne'er heard his name	I2
And though no name be for salvation known	K2
But that of his eternal Son's alone	K2
Who knows how far transcending goodness can	S2
Extend the merits of that Son to man	S2
Who knows what reasons may his mercy lead	S
Or ignorance invincible may plead	S
Not only charity bids hope the best	S
But more the great Apostle has expressed	S
That if the Gentiles whom no law inspir'd	S
By nature did what was by law requir'd	S
They who the written rule had never known	K2
Were to themselves both rule and law alone	K2
To nature's plain indictment they shall plead	S
And by their conscience be condemn'd or freed	S
Most righteous doom because a rule reveal'd	S
Is none to those from whom it was conceal'd	S
Then those who follow'd reason's dictates right	S
Liv'd up and lifted high their natural light	S
With Socrates may see their Maker's Face	S
While thousand rubric martyrs want a place	S
	-
Nor does it baulk my charity to find	S
Th'Egyptian Bishop of another mind	S
For though his Creed eternal truth contains	S
'Tis hard for man to doom to endless pains	S
All who believ'd not all his zeal requir'd	S
Unless he first could prove he was inspir'd	S
Then let us either think he meant to say	D
This faith where publish'd was the only way	D
Or else conclude that Arius to confute	S
The good old man too eager in dispute	S
Flew high and as his Christian fury rose	S
Damn'd all for heretics who durst oppose	S
	-
Thus far my charity this path has tried	S
A much unskilful but well meaning guide	S
Yet what they are ev'n these crude thoughts were bred	S
By reading that which better thou hast read	S
Thy matchless Author's work which thou my friend	S
By well translating better dost commend	S
Those youthful hours which of thy equals most	S
In toys have squander'd or in vice have lost	S
Those hours hast thou to nobler use employ'd	S
And the severe delights of truth enjoyed	S
Witness this weighty book in which appears	S
The crabbed toil of many thoughtful years	S
Spent by thy author in the sifting care	V
Of rabbins' old sophisticated ware	V
From gold divine which he who well can sort	S
May afterwards make algebra a sport	S
A treasure which if country curates buy	C
They Junius and Tremellius may defy	C
Save pains in various readings and translations	S
And without Hebrew make most learn'd quotations	S
A work so full with various learning fraught	S
So nicely ponder'd yet so strongly wrought	S
As nature's height and art's last hand requir'd	S
As much as man could compass uninspir'd	S
Where we may see what errors have been made	S
Both in the copier's and translator's trade	S
How Jewish Popish interests have prevail'd	S
And where infallibility has fail'd	S
	-
For some who have his secret meaning guess'd	S
Have found our author not too much a priest	S
For fashion sake he seems to have recourse	S
To Pope and Councils and tradition's force	S
But he that old traditions could subdue	S
Could not but find the weakness of the new	S
If Scripture though deriv'd from Heavenly birth	Q2
Has been but carelessly preserv'd on earth	Q2
If God's own people who of God before	W
Knew what we know and had been promis'd more	W
In fuller terms of Heaven's assisting care	V
And who did neither time nor study spare	V
To keep this Book untainted unperplex'd	S
Let in gross errors to corrupt the text	S
Omitted paragraphs embroil'd the sense	S
With vain traditions stopp'd the gaping fence	S
Which every common hand pull'd up with ease	S
What safety from such brushwood helps as these	S
If written words from time are not secur'd	S
How can we think have oral sounds endur'd	S
Which thus transmitted if one mouth has fail'd	S
Immortal lies on ages are entail'd	S
And that some such have been is prov'd too plain	T2
If we consider interest church and gain	T2
	-
Oh but says one tradition set aside	S
Where can we hope for an unerring guide	S
For since th' original Scripture has been lost	S
All copies disagreeing maim'd the most	S
Or Christian faith can have no certain ground	S
Or truth in Church tradition must be found	S
	-
Such an omniscient church we wish indeed	S
'Twere worth both Testaments and cast in the Creed	S
But if this Mother be a guide so sure	J2
As can all doubts resolve all truth secure	J2
Then her infallibility as well	U2
Where copies are corrupt or lame can tell	U2
Restore lost Canon with as little pains	S
As truly explicate what still remains	S
Which yet no Council dare pretend to do	S
Unless like Esdras they could write it new	S
Strange confidence still to interpret true	S
Yet not be sure that all they have explain'd	S
Is in the blest Original contain'd	S
More safe and much more modest 'tis to say	D
God would not leave mankind without a way	D
And that the Scriptures though not everywhere	V
Free from corruption or entire or clear	E
Are uncorrupt sufficient clear entire	V2
In all things which our needful faith require	V2
If others in the same glass better see	S
'Tis for themselves they look but not for me	S
For my salvation must its doom receive	W2
Not from what others but what I believe	W2
	-
Must all tradition then be set aside	S
This to affirm were ignorance or pride	S
Are there not many points some needful sure	J2
To saving faith that Scripture leaves obscure	J2
Which every sect will wrest a several way	D
For what one sect interprets all sects may	D
We hold and say we prove from Scripture plain	T2
That Christ is God the bold Socinian	T2
From the same Scripture urges he's but man	T2
Now what appeal can end th'important suit	S
Both parts talk loudly but the Rule is mute	S
	-
Shall I speak plain and in a nation free	S
Assume an honest layman's liberty	S
I think according to my little skill	X2
To my own Mother Church submitting still	X2
That many have been sav'd and many may	D
Who never heard this question brought in play	D
Th' unletter'd Christian who believes in gross	S
Plods on to Heaven and ne'er is at a loss	S
For the Strait gate would be made straiter yet	S
Were none admitted there but men of wit	S
The few by nature form'd with learning fraught	S
Born to instruct as others to be taught	S
Must study well the sacred page and see	S
Which doctrine this or that does best agree	S
With the whole tenor of the Work divine	T2
And plainliest points to Heaven's reveal'd design	T2
Which exposition flows from genuine sense	S
And which is forc'd by wit and eloquence	S
Not that tradition's parts are useless here	U
When general old disinteress'd and clear	E
That ancient Fathers thus expound the page	M2
Gives truth the reverend majesty of age	M2
Confirms its force by biding every test	S
For best authority's next Rules are best	S
And still the nearer to the Spring we go	Y
More limpid more unsoil'd the waters flow	Y
Thus first traditions were a proof alone	T2
Could we be certain such they were so known	T2
But since some flaws in long descent may be	S
They make not truth but probability	S
Even Arius and Pelagius durst provoke	Y2
To what the centuries preceding spoke	Y2
Such difference is there in an oft told tale	Z2
But truth by its own sinews will prevail	Z2
Tradition written therefore more commends	S
Authority than what from voice descends	S
And this as perfect as its kind can be	S
Rolls down to us the Sacred History	S
Which from the Universal Church receiv'd	S
Is tried and after for its self believ'd	S
	-
The partial Papists would infer from hence	S
Their church in last resort should judge the sense	S
But first they would assume with wondrous art	S
Themselves to be the whole who are but part	S
Of that vast frame the Church yet grant they were	V2
The handers down can they from thence infer	V2
A right t'interpret or would they alone	T2
Who brought the present claim it for their own	T2
The Book's a common largess to mankind	S
Not more for them than every man design'd	S
The welcome news is in the letter found	S
The carrier's not commission'd to expound	S
It speaks itself and what it does contain	T2
In all things needful to be known is plain	T2
	-
In times o'ergrown with rust and ignorance	S
A gainful trade their clergy did advance	S
When want of learning kept the laymen low	Y
And none but priests were authoriz'd to know	Y
When what small knowledge was in them did dwell	U2
And he a God who could but read or spell	U2
Then Mother Church did mightily prevail	Z2
She parcell'd out the Bible by retail	Z2
But still expounded what she sold or gave	A3
To keep it in her power to damn and save	A3
Scripture was scarce and as the market went	S
Poor laymen took salvation on content	S
As needy men take money good or bad	S
God's Word they had not but the priests they had	S
Yet whate'er false conveyances they made	S
The lawyer still was certain to be paid	S
In those dark times they learn'd their knack so well	U2
That by long use they grew infallible	F2
At last a knowing age began t'enquire	V2
If they the Book or that did them inspire	B3
And making narrower search they found though late	S
That what they thought the priest's was their estate	S
Taught by the will produc'd the written Word	S
How long they had been cheated on record	S
Then every man who saw the title fair	V
Claim'd a child's part and put in for a share	V
Consulted soberly his private good	S
And sav'd himself as cheap as e'er he could	S
	-
'Tis true my friend and far be flattery hence	S
This good had full as bad a consequence	S
The Book thus put in every vulgar hand	S
Which each presum'd he best could understand	S
The common rule was made the common prey	D
And at the mercy of the rabble lay	D
The tender page with horny fists was gall'd	S
And he was gifted most that loudest bawl'd	S
The spirit gave the doctoral degree	S
And every member of a company	S
Was of his trade and of the Bible free	S
Plain truths enough for needful use they found	S
But men would still be itching to expound	S
Each was ambitious of th'obscurest place	S
No measure ta'en from knowledge all from grace	S
Study and pains were now no more their care	V
Texts were explain'd by fasting and by prayer	V
This was the fruit the private spirit brought	S
Occasion'd by great zeal and little thought	S
While crowds unlearn'd with rude devotion warm	C3
About the sacred viands buzz and swarm	C3
The fly blown text creates a crawling brood	S
And turns to maggots what was meant for food	S
A thousand daily sects rise up and die	S
A thousand more the perish'd race supply	S
So all we make of Heaven's discover'd Will	X2
Is not to have it or to use it ill	X2
The danger's much the same on several shelves	S
If others wreck us or we wreck ourselves	S
	-
What then remains but waving each extreme	D3
The tides of ignorance and pride to stem	E3
Neither so rich a treasure to forego	Y
Nor proudly seek beyond our pow'r to know	Y
Faith is not built on disquisitions vain	T2
The things we must believe are few and plain	T2
But since men will believe more than they need	S
And every man will make himself a creed	S
In doubtful questions 'tis the safest way	D
To learn what unsuspected ancients say	D
For 'tis not likely we should higher soar	W
In search of Heav'n than all the Church before	W
Nor can we be deceiv'd unless we see	S
The Scripture and the Fathers disagree	S
If after all they stand suspected still	X2
For no man's faith depends upon his will	X2
'Tis some relief that points not clearly known	T2
Without much hazard may be let alone	T2
And after hearing what our Church can say	D
If still our reason runs another way	D
That private reason 'tis more just to curb	F3
Than by disputes the public peace disturb	F3
For points obscure are of small use to learn	T2
But common quiet is mankind's concern	T2
	-
Thus have I made my own opinions clear	E
Yet neither praise expect nor censure fear	E
And this unpolish'd rugged verse I chose	S
As fittest for discourse and nearest prose	S
For while from sacred truth I do not swerve	G3
Tom Sternhold's or Tom Shadwell's rhymes will serve	G3

John Dryden

Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation

<< One Happy Moment Poem Song From Amphitryon Poem>>

Write your comment about Religio Laici poem by John Dryden

Best Poems of John Dryden

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 13 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Wonderful Women
by Umaru Kanneh Boima
Freedom To Scratch In Peace
by Olute Aete
Happy New Year
by Felix Menda
Human Beings
by Dana Graslie
Lust
by Wisdom Greatness
An Isolated Tree's Song
by Sayeed Abubakar
A Strange Boy
by Sayeed Abubakar
O Soil
by Sayeed Abubakar
No War, No War-monger
by Sayeed Abubakar
Night's Town
by Sayeed Abubakar

Popular Poets

1. Emily Dickinson(2414 poems)
2. Madison Julius Cawein(1231 poems)
3. Ella Wheeler Wilcox(1136 poems)
4. William Wordsworth(1016 poems)
5. Robert Burns(986 poems)
6. Edgar Albert Guest(945 poems)
7. Thomas Moore(849 poems)
8. Robert Service(831 poems)