And still the nearer to the spring we go
More limpid, more unfoil'd, the waters flow.
Thus firft traditions were a proof alone;

Could we be certain fuch they were, so known:
But fince fome flaws in long defcent may be,
They make not truth, but probability.
Ev'n Arius and Pelagius durft provoke
To what the centuries preceding spoke.
Such difference is there in an oft-told tale:
But truth by its own finews will prevail.
Tradition written therefore more commends
Authority, than what from voice defcends :
And this, as perfect as its kind can be,
Rolls down to us the facred hiftory:
Which, from the univerfal church receiv'd,
Is try'd, and after, for itself believ'd.

The partial Papifts would infer from hence
Their church, in last resort, should judge the sense.
But first they would affume with wonderous art,
Themselves to be the whole, who are but part
Of that vaft frame the church; yet grant they were
The handers-down, can they from thence infer
A right t'interpret? or would they alone,
Who brought the prefent, claim it for their own?
The book's a common largefs to mankind;
Not more for them than every man defign'd:
The welcome news is in the letter found;
The carrier's not commiffion'd to expound.
It fpeaks itself, and what it does contain,
In all things needful to be known is plain.

In times o'ergrown with ruft and ignorance, A gainful trade their clergy did advance : When want of learning kept the laymen low,

And none but priefts were authoriz'd to know:

When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell;
And he a God who could but read and spell;
Then mother church did mightily prevail :
She parcel'd out the Bible by retail":
But still expounded what she sold or gave;
To keep it in her power to damn and fave:
Scripture was fcarce, and, as the market went,
Poor laymen took falvation on content;

As needy men takę money good or bad:
God's word they had not, but the priest's they had.
Yet whate'er false conveyances they made,

The lawyer ftill was certain to be paid.

In those dark times they learn'd their knack fo well, That by long ufe they grew infallible:

At laft a knowing age began t' enquire

If they the book, or that did them infpire:

And making narrower fearch they found, though late,
That what they thought the priest's, was their estate :
Taught by the will produc'd, the written word,
How long they had been cheated on record.
Then every man who faw the title fair,
Claim'd a child's part, and put in for a fhare
Confulted foberly his private good;

:

And fav'd himself as cheap as e'er he could.
'Tis true, my friend, and far be flattery hence,
This good had full as bad a confequence :

VOL. I.

S

The

The book thus put in every vulgar hand,
Which each prefum'd he best could understand,
The common rule was made the common prey;
And at the mercy of the rabble lay.

The tender page with horny fifts was gall'd;
And he was gifted most that loudest baul'd :
The spirit gave the doctoral degree :

And every member of a company

Was of his trade, and of the Bible free.

Plain truths enough for needful use they found;
But men would ftill be itching to expound :
Each was ambitious of th' obfcurèst place,
No measure ta'en from knowledge, all from grace.
Study and pains were now no more their care;
Texts were explain'd by fafting and by prayer :
This was the fruit the private fpirit brought;
Occafion'd by great zeal and little thought.
While crouds unlearn'd, with rude devotion warm,
About the facred viands buz and fwarm.
The fly-blown text creates a crawling brood;
And turns to maggots what was meant for food.
A thousand daily fects rife up and die;

A thousand more the perifh'd race fupply:
So all we make of heaven's difcover'd will,
Is not to have it, or to ufe it ill.

The danger's much the fame; on feveral fhelves
If others wreck us, or we wreck ourselves.

What then remains, but, waving each extreme,
The tides of ignorance and pride to stem?

}

Neither fo rich a treasure to forego;

Nor proudly feek beyond our power to know:
Faith is not built on difquifitions vain ;

The things we must believe are few and plain :
But, fince men will believe more than they need,
And every man will make himself a creed,
In doubtful queftions 'tis the fafest way
To learn what unfufpected ancients say:
For 'tis not likely we should higher foar

In fearch of heaven, than all the church before:
Nor can we be deceiv'd, unless we fee
The fcripture and the fathers difagree.
If after all they stand fufpected ftill,

For no man's faith depends upon his will;
'Tis fome relief, that points not clearly known
Without much hazard may be let alone :
And, after hearing what our church can fay,
If ftill our reafon runs another way,
That private reafon 'tis more just to curb,
Than by disputes the public peace disturb,
For points obfcure are of finall use to learn:
But common quiet is mankind's concern.

Thus have I made my own opinions clear:
Yet neither praise expect, nor censure fear :
And this unpolish'd rugged verse I chose;
As fitteft for difcourfe, and nearest profe:
For while from facred truth I do not fwerve,

Tom Sternhold's or Tom Shadwell's rhymes will ferve. 4h3.

THE ART OF POETRY,

TH

ADVERTISEMENT.

HIS tranflation of monfieur Boileau's Art of Poetry was made in the year 1680, by Sir William Soame of Suffolk, Baronet; who being very intimately acquainted with Mr. Dryden, defired his revifal of it. I faw the manufcript lie in Mr. Dryden's hands for above fix months, who made very confiderable alterations in it, particularly the beginning of the fourth Canto and it being his opinion that it would be better to apply the poem to English writers, than keep to the French names, as it was first translated, Sir William defired he would take the pains to make that alteration; and accordingly that was entirely done by Mr. Dryden.

:

The poem was first published in the year 1683; Sir William was after fent ambassador to Conftantinople, in the reign of king James, but died in the voyage. J. TONSON.

R

CAN Tо I.

ASH author, 'tis a vain prefumptuous crime,
To undertake the facred art of rhyme ;

If at thy birth the stars that rul'd thy fenfe
Shone not with a poetic influence;