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"And visit not with a
severer scorn
Faults, whose deep root was with our nature born,
From which - though others wooed thee just as vain -
Thou, differently tempted, didst abstain:
Nor dwell on points of creed - assuming right
To judge how holy in his Maker's sight
Is he who at a different altar bends;
For hence have ris'n the bitterest feuds of friends,
The wildest wars of nations; age on age
Hath desecrated thus dark History's page;
And still (though not, perhaps, with fire and sword)
Reckless we raise 'The banner of the Lord!'
Mock Heaven's calm mercy by the plea we make,
That all is done for gentle Jesus' sake, -
Disturb the consciences of weaker men, -
Employ the scholar's art, the bigot's pen, -
And rouse the wrathful and the spirit-proud
To language bitter, vehement, and loud,
Whose unconvincing fury wounds the ear,
And seeking, with some sharp and haughty sneer,
How best the opposing party may be stung, -
Pleads for Religion with a devil's tongue!
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