Ii

At first you say, "The whole, or chief Of difficulties, is belief. Could I believe once thoroughly, The rest were simple. What? Am I An idiot, do you think,--a beast? Prove to me, only that the least Command of God is God's indeed, And what injunction shall I need To pay obedience? Death so nigh, When time must end, eternity Begin,--and cannot I compute, Weigh loss and gain together, suit My actions to the balance drawn, And give my body to be sawn Asunder, hacked in pieces, tied To horses, stoned, burned, crucified, Like any martyr of the list? How gladly!--if I make acquist, Through the brief minute's fierce annoy, Of God's eternity of joy."