He knew next to nothing about God, and misrepresented him hideously.

If God were such as he showed him, it would be the worst possible misfortune to have been created.
Donal had found the passage.

It was in The Mask of Anarchy.

He read the following stanzas:-- Let a vast assembly be, And with great solemnity Declare with measured words that ye Are, as God has made ye, free.
Be your strong and simple words Keen to wound as sharpened swords, And wide as targes let them be, With their shade to cover ye.
And if then the tyrants dare, Let them ride among you there, Slash, and stab, and maim, and hew-- What they like, that let them do.
With folded arms and steady eyes, And little fear, and less surprise, Look upon them as they slay, Till their rage has died away.
And that slaughter to the Nation Shall steam up like inspiration, Eloquent, oracular-- A volcano heard afar.
Ending, the reader turned to the listener.

But the listener had understood little of the meaning, and less of the spirit.