4
(illegible text)t say ye met with such a youth,
And so ye took, occasion,
(Because he could not stop your mouth
With arguments and reason)
To scandalise a country side,
Insult a congregation,
And send the rumour broad and wide
Of singing folks damnation!
Your similie sustains a place
That never was disputed;
For if the fountain’s foul and base
The stream must be polluted.
Hence ye infer, the men that sings
Can neither love nor fear;
But who has puddled a’ their springs,
And keeped yours so clear?
Are ye more wise and farer seen
Than ony other living!
That ilka man may close his een,
And follow you to Heaven;
To bring the Scriptures on your side,
Ye cite them out of season.
He who takes scripture for his guide,
Should balance truth with reason.
For me, I cannot mention half
Th’ absurdities ye bring in,
For instance, what has Aaron’s calf
To do with modern singing?
The braying ass, the singing bird,
And siclike observations?
Should I recite them word for word,
’Twould tire the reader’s patience.
