Or whether 't be a lesser sin
To be forsworn, than act the thing,60
Are deep and subtle points, which must,
T' inform my conscience, be discust;
In which to err a tittle may
To errors infinite make way:
And therefore I desire to know65
Thy judgment, ere we further go.
Quoth Ralpho, Since you do injoin't,
I shall enlarge upon the point;
And, for my own part, do not doubt
Th' affirmative may be made out.70
But first, to state the case aright,
For best advantage of our light;
And thus 'tis, whether 't be a sin,
To claw and curry our own skin,
Greater or less than to forbear.75
And that you are forsworn forswear.
But first, o' th' first: The inward man,
And outward, like a clan and clan.
Have always been at daggers-drawing,
And one another clapper-clawing:[1]80
Not that they really cuff or fence.
But in a spiritual mystic sense;
Which to mistake, and make them squabble,
In literal fray's abominable;
'Tis heathenish, in frequent use,85
With Pagans and apostate Jews,
To offer sacrifice of bridewells,[2]
Like modern Indians to their idols;[3]
- ↑ Alluding to the clans of Scotland, which have sometimes kept up a feud for many generations, and committed violent outrages on each other. The doctrine which the Independents and other sectaries held concerning the natural hostility between the inward and outward man, is frequently alluded to.
- ↑ i.e. Whipping, as administered in Bridewell, and similar houses of correction.
- ↑ The similarity of practice in this particular, between the scourging sects of heathen Indians and the flagellants of the Romish Church, is forcibly
subtle interpretation; or after they are sworn, they can find some loophole or artificial evasion; whereby such art may be used with the oath, that, the words remaining, the meaning may be eluded with sophism, and the sense utterly lost."
