But if you cannot think, (nor sure you can
Suppose in God what were unjust in man,)
}
That He, the fountain of eternal grace, }
Should suffer falsehood for so long a space }
To banish truth, and to usurp her place; }
That seven successive ages should be lost,
And preach damnation at their proper cost;[173]
That all your erring ancestors should die,
Drowned in the abyss of deep idolatry;