The Religion of Hudibras

Samuel Butler (1612–1680)

From “Hudibras,” Part I.

HE was of that stubborn crew

Of errant saints, whom all men grant

To be the true church militant;

Such as do build their faith upon

The holy text of pike and gun;

Decide all controversies by

Infallible artillery,

And prove their doctrine orthodox

By apostolic blows and knocks;

Call fire, and sword, and desolation

A godly, thorough Reformation,

Which always must be carried on

And still be doing, never done;

As if religion were intended

For nothing else but to be mended.

A sect whose chief devotion lies

In odd perverse antipathies;

In falling out with that or this,

And finding somewhat still amiss;

More peevish, cross, and splenetic,

Than dog distract, or monkey sick;

That with more care keep holiday

The wrong than others the right way;

Compound for sins they are inclined to,

By damning those they have no mind to;

Still so perverse and opposite,

As if they worshipped God for spite;

The self-same thing they will abhor

One way, and long another for.