Ye Cannot Serve God And Mammon Poem by John Bowring

Not a broken, brief obedience
Doth the Lord of heaven demand;
He requires your whole allegiance,
Words and deeds, and heart and hand:
God will hold divided sway
With no deity of clay.


Wealth and pomp and power are idols
Worshipped by their devotees:
But religion's influence bridles
All esteem for things like these:
They are trappings meant to hide
The deformities of pride.


He who onward moves, pursuing
Patiently his heavenward road,
'Midst the rocks, and 'midst the ruin
Which perplex the path to God-
Not by hope or fear betrayed,
Nor allured by vain parade:


He who, 'midst the world's delusions,
Keeps his heart serene and free,
Sheltered safe from the intrusions
Of unhallowed vanity;-
He, heaven's crown of bliss shall wear,
He, earth's brightest portion share.