Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/164

 God gave to man that bright angelic guide, A reasoning soul, his being's better part;— He gave her freedom; but thou wouldst confine And cramp her action to that creed of thine.

XXIX.

"Who binds the soul extends the reign of hell; She's formed to err, but, erring, truth to find; Pity her wanderings, but, O never quell  The bold aspirings of this angel blind! God is her strength within, and bids her spell,  By outward promptings, the eternal Mind: Long may she wander still in quest of light, But day will dawn at last upon a polar night."

XXX.

"A dangerous tenet that!" the Elder said; "A fallen angel doubtless she may be; If truth she find by natural reason's aid, It ever leads her to some heresy; Indeed, the truth too often is betrayed  To minds ill-fitted for inquiry free; From bad to worse, from worse to worst we go, And end our being in eternal woe.

XXXI.

"Nature's own truths do oft the mind mislead; From partial glimpses men will judge the whole; And it were better if our Church's creed  Were learning's object and its utmost goal; Reason would then no higher purpose need,  Than, by it, point the yet erratic soul To her high hope and everlasting rest!" Williams this heard, and spake with kindling breast: