Page:Gondibert, an heroick poem - William Davenant (1651).djvu/49

 by the means of winds, as uncertain as the breath of Opinion; and is laden with the People; a Fraight much loosser, and more dangerous than any other living Stowage; being as troublesom in fair weather, as Horses in a Storm. And how can these Pilots stedily maintain their course to the Land of Peace and Plentie, since they are often divided at the Helm? For Divines (when they consider great Chiefs) suppose Armies to be sent from God for a temporarie Plague, not for continual Jurisdiction; and that Gods extream punishments (of which Armies be the most violent) are ordain'd to have no more lastingness than extreams in Nature. They think (when they consider States-men) Policie hath nothing of the Dove, and being all Serpent, is more dangerous than the dangers it pretends to prevent: and that out-witting (by falshood and corruption) adverse States, or the People (though the People be often the greater enemie and more perilsom being nearest) is but giving reputation to Sin, and that to maintain the Publick by politick evils, is a base prostitution of Religion, and the prostitution of Religion is that unpardonable whordom, which so much anger'd the Prophets. They think Law nothing but the Bible forcibly usurp'd by covetous Lawyers, and disguis'd in a Paraphrase more obscure than the Text; and that 'tis onely want of just reverence to Religion, which doth expose us to the charges and vexations of Law.

The Leaders of Armies accuse Divines, for unwisely raising the War of the World by opposite Doctrine, and for being more indiscreet in thinking to appease it by perswasion; forgetting that the dispatchfull ending of War is blows; and that the natural region for Disputes, when Nations are engag'd (though by Religion) is the Field of Battel, not Schools and Academies; which they believe (by their restless controversies) less civil than Camps; as intestine Quarrel is held more barbarous than forreign War. They think States-men to them (unless dignifi'd with militarie Office) but mean Spies, that like African Foxes (who attend on Lions, ranging before and about for their