IN VAIN with whip and knotted cord The hirelings of hypocrisy Would make us comely for the Lord: Think ye God works through such as ye -- Paid Puritan, plump Pharisee, And lobbyist fingering his fat bill, Reeking of rum and bribery: God needs not you to work His will. We know you whom you serve, abhorred Traducers of true piety, What tarnished gold is your reward In Washington and Albany; 'Tis not from God you take your fee, Another's purpose to fulfil, You that are God's worst enemy: God needs not you to work His will. Not by the money-changing horde, Base traders in the sanctuary, Nor by fanatic fire and sword, Shall man grow as God wills him be; In his own heart a voice hath he That whispers to him small and still; God gives him eyes His good to see: God needs not you to work His will. ENVOI Dear Prince, a sinner's honesty Is more to God, much nearer still, Than the bribed hypocritic knee: God needs not you to work His will. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FUNERAL HYMN by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE RETIRED CAT by WILLIAM COWPER DICKENS IN CAMP by FRANCIS BRET HARTE THE WIND by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON THE QUAKER WIDOW by BAYARD TAYLOR STEAMBOATS, VIADUCTS, AND RAILWAYS by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH HASSAN'S MUSIC by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |