Introduction:
�On the Religion of Nature� is a poem written by Philip Freneau. It is a poem that appreciates nature and God.
About the Poet:
Philip Freneau (1752-1832) was a notable American poet and editor. He owned the newspaper �National Gazette� and was popularly nicknamed �Poet of the American Revolution�. Famous works of his include �The Wild Honey Suckle�, �The American Village�, and �On the Religion of Nature�.�
Structure:
This poem is divided into 5 stanzas consisting of 6 lines each. Each stanza follows the rhyme scheme �ababcc�.
Explanation of the Stanzas:
Stanza 1:
The power, that gives with liberal hand � The blessings man enjoys, while here, And scatters through a smiling land � The abundant products of the year; � � � That power of nature, ever bless�d, � � � Bestow�d religion with the rest.
The stanza begins with a direct reference to God, �The power, that gives with liberal hand�. The persona believes that nature and its resources are �blessings man enjoys�. Further, he states that it is the manifestation of the power of God �Bestow�d� upon mankind.
Stanza 2:
Born with ourselves, her early sway � Inclines the tender mind to take The path of right, fair virtue�s way � Its own felicity to make. � � � This universally extends � � � And leads to no mysterious ends.
In this stanza, the persona describes nature as a loving, nurturing guide who �sway�s us humans to take �The path of right�. This path that nature forges for one, according to the persona, is an uncomplicated and righteous one, leading to �no mysterious ends�.
Stanza 3
Religion, such as nature taught, � With all divine perfection suits; Had all mankind this system sought � Sophist would cease their vain disputes, � � � And from this source would nations know � � � All that can make their heaven below.
Here, the persona again draws a parallel between religion and nature. Through both, the persona feels that mankind is made orderly, persuaded to �cease their vain disputes�. Instead, they teach Man to �make their heaven below� on Earth itself.
Stanza 4:
This deals not curses on mankind, � Or dooms them to perpetual grief, If from its aid no joys they find, � It damns them not for unbelief; � � � Upon a more exalted plan � � � Creatress nature dealt with man�
Again, the persona is mindful to state that such a relationship is not one that �curses on mankind� or �dooms them to perpetual grief� but only provides joy. Were it not to be the case, then it is to mean that nature does not �damns them� for their �unbelief� but that the �Creatress� has a much more �exalted plan� in store for that man.
Stanza 5:
Joy to the day, when all agree � On such grand systems to proceed, From fraud, design, and error free, � And which to truth and goodness lead: � � � Then persecution will retreat � � � And man's religion be complete.
In the final stanza, the persona ends by stating that this joy will be �complete� when nature and religion �proceed� free from �fraud, design� and remain �error free�. This, they declare, will lead one to �truth and goodness� and �persecution will retreat�, completing nature which the persona calls �man�s religion�.
Conclusion:
This is a thought-provoking poem. Through its simple and beautiful verses, the poet brings out the importance and power of nature and religion and the necessity for both to remain untainted.�