BAXTER'S POEMS. 133 To go with honour, ease, and sport to Hell, And there with shame an,d late repentance dwell ! Truth is for goodness, wisdom's use and end, To which true learning, and just studies tend, Is that this may be th'roughly understood, 'To be good, do good, and get endless good.' False wit employ'd in hurting other men, Writes its own death in blood, with its own pen: It forceth many to their self-defence, Who fain would live in quiet innocence~ Kites, Foxes, \Volves, have wit to cai~h their prey, Yet harmless sheep live quieter than they ; Men keep their flocks that they may multiply, So that few by wolves and lions die ; · But hurtful rav'nous beasts all men pursue, While all de£troy them, there remains but few . Some slight Goa's word because weak men abuse it . What's law or reason then, when all misuse it? Men will not despise God, nor sin, nor die, But they will give a learned reason why. · What is so false, which wit cannot defend, ~nd that by volumes confidently penn'd? Reason can justify the greatest wrong, The basest lie can hire a learned tongue. What cause so vile, that cannot wit suborn ? Men will not without reason be forsworn. Reason can make rogues of the best of men, And make a church of saints a serpent's den i Can make usurping Lucifer a saint, ~nd holy martyrs like to devils paint,
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