CALM as an under current strong to draw Millions of waves into itself, and run, From sea to sea, impervious to the sun
the spirit of Nassau
(By constant impulse of religious awe
Swayed, and thereby enabled to contend With the wide world's commotions) from its end Swerves not - diverted by a casual law. Had mortal action e'er a nobler scope? The Hero comes to liberate, not defy; And, while he marches on with righteous hope, Conqueror beloved! expected anxiously! The vacillating Bondman of the Pope Shrinks from the verdict of his steadfast eye.
· OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
UNGRATEFUL Country, if thou e'er forget The sons who for thy civil rights have bled! How, like a Roman, Sidney bowed his head, And Russel's milder blood the scaffold wet; But These had fallen for profitless regret Had not thy holy Church her Champions bred, And claims from other worlds inspirited The Star of Liberty to rise. Nor yet
(Grave this within thy heart!) if spiritual things Be lost, through apathy, or scorn, or fear,
Shalt thou thy humbler franchises support,
However hardly won or justly dear:
What came from Heaven to Heaven by nature clings, And, if dissevered thence, its course is short.
Down a swift Stream, thus far, a bold design Have we pursued, with livelier stir of heart Than his who sees, borne forward by the Rhine, The living landscapes greet him, and depart; Sees spires fast sinking-up again to start! And strives the towers to number, that recline O'er the dark steeps, or on the horizon line Striding with shattered crests the eye athwart ; So have we hurried on with troubled pleasure: Henceforth, as on the bosom of a stream
That slackens, and spreads wide a watery gleam, We, nothing loth a lingering course to measure, May gather up our thoughts, and mark at leisure Features that else had vanished like a dream,
THERE are no colours in the fairest sky
So fair as these. The feather whence the pen Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men, Dropped from an Angel's wing. With moistened eye We read of Faith and purest Charity
In Statesman, Priest, and humble Citizen: O could we copy their mild virtues, then What joy to live, what blessedness to die! Methinks their very names shine still and bright; Apart, like glow-worms on a summer night; Or lonely tapers when from far they fling A guiding ray; or seen, like stars on high, Satellites burning in a lucid ring
Around meek Walton's heavenly memory.
A SUDDEN Conflict rises from the swell
Of a proud slavery met by tenets strained In Liberty's behalf. Fears, true or feigned, Spread through all ranks; and lo! the Sentinel Who loudest rang his pulpit 'larum bell,
Stands at the Bar absolved by female eyes,
Mingling their glances with grave flatteries Lavished on Him that England may rebel Against her ancient virtue. HIGH and Low, Watch-words of Party, on all tongues are rife; As if a Church, though sprung from heaven, must owe To opposites and fierce extremes her life, Not to the golden mean, and quiet flow Of truths that soften hatred, temper strife.
XIII. PLACES OF WORSHIP.
As star that shines dependent upon star Is to the sky while we look up in love;
As to the deep fair ships which though they move Seem fixed, to eyes that watch them from afar ; As to the sandy desert fountains are,
With palm groves shaded at wide intervals, Whose fruit around the sun-burnt Native falls Of roving tired or desultory war;
Such to this British Isle her Christian Fanes, Each linked to each for kindred services;
Her Spires, her Steeple-towers with glittering vanes Far-kenned, her Chapels lurking among trees,
Where a few villagers on bended knees
Find solace which a busy world disdains,
A GENIAL hearth, a hospitable board, And a refined rusticity, belong
To the neat Mansion *, where, his Flock among, The learned Pastor dwells, their watchful Lord. Though meek and patient as a sheathèd sword, Though pride's least lurking thought appear a wrong To human kind; though peace be on his tongue, Gentleness in his heart; can earth afford Such genuine state, pre-eminence so free, As when, arrayed, in Christ's authority, He from the Pulpit lifts his awful hand; Conjures, implores, and labours all he can For re-subjecting to divine command The stubborn spirit of rebellious Man?
YES, if the intensities of hope and fear Attract us still, and passionate exercise Of lofty thoughts, the way before us lies
Distinct with signs through which, in fixed career, As through a zodiac, moves the ritual year Of England's Church-stupendous mysteries! Which whoso travels in her bosom, eyes As he approaches them, with solemn cheer. Enough for us to cast a transient glance The circle through; relinquishing its story For those whom Heaven hath fitted to advance, And, harp in hand, rehearse the King of Glory - From his mild advent till his countenance Shall dissipate the seas and mountains hoary. *See note, p. 202.
BLEST be the Church, that, watching o'er the needs Of Infancy, provides a timely shower, Whose virtue changes to a Christian Flower A Growth from sinful Nature's bed of Weeds! Fitliest beneath the sacred roof proceeds The ministration; while parental Love Looks on, and Grace descendeth from above As the high service pledges now, now pleads. There, should vain thoughts outspread their wings and fly To meet the coming hours of festal mirth,
The tombs which hear and answer that brief cry,
The Infant's notice of his second birth,
Recal the wandering soul to sympathy
With what Man hopes from Heaven, yet fears from Earth.
FATHER! to God himself we cannot give A holier name! Then lightly do not bear Both names conjoined - but of thy spiritual care Be duly mindful; still more sensitive
Do Thou, in truth a second Mother, strive Against disheartening custom, that by Thee Watched, and with love and pious industry Tended at need, the adopted Plant may thrive For everlasting bloom. Benign and pure This Ordinance, whether loss it would supply, Prevent omission, help deficiency,
Or seek to make assurance doubly sure. Shame if the consecrated Vow be found An idle form, the Word an empty sound!
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