sense,
  With vain traditions stopp’d the gaping fence,
  Which every common hand pull’d up with ease: 
  What safety from such brushwood-helps as these! 
  If written words from time are not secured, 270
  How can we think have oral sounds endured? 
  Which thus transmitted, if one mouth has fail’d,
  Immortal lies on ages are entail’d: 
  And that some such have been, is proved too plain,
  If we consider interest, church, and gain.

   O but, says one, tradition set aside,
  Where can we hope for an unerring guide? 
  For since the original Scripture has been lost,
  All copies disagreeing, maim’d the most,
  Or Christian faith can have no certain ground, 280
  Or truth in Church Tradition must be found.

   Such an omniscient Church we wish indeed: 
  ’Twere worth both Testaments, cast in the Creed: 
  But if this mother be a guide so sure,
  As can all doubts resolve, all truth secure,
  Then her infallibility, as well
  Where copies are corrupt or lame, can tell;
  Restore lost canon with as little pains,
  As truly explicate what still remains: 
  Which yet no Council dare pretend to do; 290
  Unless, like Esdras, they could write it new: 
  Strange confidence still to interpret true,
  Yet not be sure that all they have explain’d
  Is in the blest original contain’d! 
  More safe, and much more modest ’tis to say,
  God would not leave mankind without a way: 
  And that the Scriptures, though not every where
  Free from corruption, or entire, or clear,
  Are uncorrupt, sufficient, clear, entire,
  In all things which our needful faith require. 300
  If others in the same glass better see,
  ’Tis for themselves they look, but not for me: 
  For my salvation must its doom receive,
  Not from what others, but what I believe.

   Must all tradition then be set aside? 
  This to affirm were ignorance or pride. 
  Are there not many points, some needful sure
  To saving faith, that Scripture leaves obscure? 
  Which every sect will wrest a several way,
  For what one sect interprets, all sects may. 310
  We hold, and say we prove from Scripture plain,
  That Christ is God; the bold Socinian
  From the same Scripture urges he’s but man. 
  Now, what appeal can end the important suit? 
  Both parts talk loudly, but the rule is mute.

   Shall I speak plain, and in a nation free
  Assume an honest layman’s liberty? 
  I think, according to my little skill,
  To my own Mother Church submitting still,
  That many have been saved, and many may, 320
  Who never heard this question brought in play. 
  Th’ unletter’d Christian, who believes in gross,
  Plods on to heaven, and ne’er is