Note 525 — PART THE SECOND. (continued 12)

Hast thou by statute shoved from its design The Saviour's feast, his own blest bread and wine, And made the symbols of atoning grace An office-key, a picklock to a place? That infidels may prove their title good, By an oath dipp'd in sacramental blood? A blot that will be still a blot, in spite Of all that grave apologists may write: And, though a bishop toil to cleanse the stain, He wipes and scours the silver cup in vain. And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the book's outside, who ne'er look'd within?