How can the less the Greater comprehend?
Or finite Reason reach Infinity?
For what cou'd Fathom God were more than He.
The first stanza of the poem is finished with the first notion of the main theme of the poem. Would humans be able to comprehend God in his full glory, they would be greater than him. As this is not the case, in the opinion of the author, such an endeavor is foolish, and should not be attempted. This is referencing the later critique of Catholic scholars who use their own moral logic to obtain divine knowledge, which they use to create laws.
If on the book itself we cast our view,
concurrent heathens prove the story true:
The doctrine, miracles; which must convince,
for heav'n in them appeals to humane sense
This quote is reflective of one of the main arguments given within the poem. Dryden argues that the holy scripture itself contains the same basic truths that have been lived by many a people before the time of Christ (all heathens by definition) and therefore their lives and the miracles that happen are proof to those basic truths of Christianity. This again is an attack on the strict doctrine of the Catholic church, especially the fact that many Christians consider themselves above the rest. By taking in heathens into the circle of the saved who have no power to know the Christian truth, Dryden devalues most of the power-base of the Catholic Church and the Pope.
So all we make of heavens discover'd will
is, not to have it, or to use it ill.
The danger's much the same; on several shelves
if others wreck us or we wreck ourselves.
Towards the end of the poem, this powerful line is written to tell the readers what has become of the Christian world. While the poem beforehand explains that the simple truth of the scripture is easy to be understood by anyone, even a layman, this part laments what the scholarly world has made of it. Dryden argues that while the will of God is plain and simple, humankind has distorted it, claiming ignorance and using their own interpretations. He argues that not knowing what God wants and using it for one's own good is much the same, causing war and havoc. This conclusion of his argumentation is another blow against the Catholic Church, whose doctrine and laws have cause many wars beforehand. Considering this from the viewpoint of a 17th century protestant, the depravity and godlessness of the Catholic counterparts must have been a strange and revolting concept.
