Bishops have a clear right to expect from all men devout and willing submission in matters of both doctrine and practice. They are theological experts, and in a very real sense the directors of conscience. It is not to be denied that there have been among our Spiritual Lords some who were incompetent and even unworthy, but even these sat in Moses' seat and might not be disobeyed with impunity. Implicit obedience is the one great law of the church.—@3Church Paper.@1 WHEN the gay monkey reigns, We all do well to dance; And when the ass parades, We all do well to prance. The monkey and the ass, They both can play the flute; The wise man is a fool, Who would with them dispute. The teachers one and all, They sit in Moses' seat; They know the whole of truth, The will of God complete. He is a fool indeed, Who would with them contend; Can we the ass instruct? The monkey comprehend? Discourse thou noble ass, To wisdom we incline; Be patient till our minds Climb slowly up to thine. Both ass and monkey reign, And daily they parade; 'T is ours to dance and prance, To their sweet serenade. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: LOVERIDGE CHASE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DILIGENCE IS TO MAGIC AS PROGRESS IS TO FLIGHT by MARIANNE MOORE TO A FRIEND IN THE MAKING by MARIANNE MOORE AN EVANGELIST'S WIFE by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON MERLIN by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON HYBRIDS OF WAR: A MORALITY POEM: 2. CAMBODIA by KAREN SWENSON TO A CASTILIAN SONG by SARA TEASDALE |