Classic Poem

This was good doctrine once, but now
We not contented are to know
What God thinks good for to reveale,
Unlesse we with Prometheus steale
Some fire from heaven; or commit
A rape on Pallas ' Divine Wit,
Or pick Jove's lock, and secrets get
Out of his closest Cabinet.
We with the Bethshemites dare pry
Into God's Ark, and cast an eye
Within the vaile, although that wee
Or blinde, or dead straite stricken be;
Such boldnesse wel deserves to have
No eyes, or else a suddaine grave.
He that would know more then is fit,
Forfeits his life as wel as wit.
And while he seeks what God hath hidden,
He eats again the fruit forbidden.
So striving to be overwise,
Is justly banisht Paradise.
But if we would know safely more,
Let's practice what we knew before;
Nor search His secret wil into,
But His revealed let us doe;
'Tis that concerns us most: the way
To understand is to obey.