Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/415

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Kind star, still may'st thou shed they sacred influence here, Or from thy private peaceful orb appear; For, sure, we want some guide from Heav'n to show The way which ev'ry wandr'ing fool below Pretends so perfectly to know; And which for aught I see, and much I fear, The world has wholly miss'd; I mean the way which leads to Christ: Mistaken ideots! see how giddily they run, Led blindly on by avarice and pride, What mighty numbers follow them; Each fond of erring with his guide: Some whom ambition drives, seek Heaven's high Son In Cæsar's court, or in Jerusalem; Others, ignorantly wise, Among proud doctors and disputing pharisees: What could the sages gain but unbelieving scorn; Their faith was so uncourtly when they said That Heaven s high Son was in a village born; That the world's Saviour had been In a vile manger laid, And foster'd in a wretched inn?

Necessity, thou tyrant conscience of the great, Say, why the church is still led blindfold by the state; Why should the first be ruin'd and laid waste, To mend dilapidations in the last? . XVIII.