PRIESTLY BIGOTRY. an epigram.
Where man his standard of perfection rears,
The Divel there asserts his right to reign!
Thus, Priestly Bigots with truth in arrears,
Themselves exert, contracting the domain
Of heavenly freedom: while their victims gain’d
Are soul degraded, full of creature-fears:
Yes, round their souls vile superstition’s mesh
Is wove, as spiders would their prey secure!
Then, over such, the iron rod appears,
As wielded by a Demon; where maintain’d
The galling rule is;—nothing to refresh
The weary soul that’s doom’d such things t’ endure!
The Divel there asserts his right to reign!
Thus, Priestly Bigots with truth in arrears,
Themselves exert, contracting the domain
Of heavenly freedom: while their victims gain’d
Are soul degraded, full of creature-fears:
Yes, round their souls vile superstition’s mesh
Is wove, as spiders would their prey secure!
Then, over such, the iron rod appears,
As wielded by a Demon; where maintain’d
The galling rule is;—nothing to refresh
The weary soul that’s doom’d such things t’ endure!

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