The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

Holy and heavenly Spirits as they are,
    Spotless in life, and eloquent as wise,
    With what entire affection do they prize[219]
    Their Church reformed![220] labouring with earnest care
    To baffle all that may[221] her strength impair;                   5
    That Church, the unperverted Gospel's seat;
    In their afflictions a divine retreat;
    Source of their liveliest hope, and tenderest prayer!--
    The truth exploring with an equal mind,
    In doctrine and communion they have sought[222]                   10
    Firmly between the two extremes to steer;
    But theirs the wise man's ordinary lot,
    To trace right courses for the stubborn blind,
    And prophesy to ears that will not hear.

FOOTNOTES:

[219] The reading, "Their new-born Church," printed in all editions
of the poems from 1822 till 1842, had been objected to by several
correspondents; and out of deference to their suggestions it was
altered to "Their Church reformed": but Wordsworth wrote to his
nephew and biographer, November 12, 1846, "I don't like the term
_reformed_; if taken in its literal sense as a _transformation_,
it is very objectionable" (see _Memoirs_, vol. ii. p. 113), and in
the "postscript" _to Yarrow Revisited_, _etc._, he says, "The great
Religious Reformation of the sixteenth century did not profess to be a
new construction, but a restoration of something fallen into decay, or
put out of sight."--ED.

[220] 1845.

    ... did they prize
    Their new-born Church!... 1822.

    ... do they prize
    Their new-born Church!... 1827.

[221] 1827.

    ... might ... 1822.

[222] 1827.

    In polity and discipline they sought 1822.




XLI

DISTRACTIONS


    Men, who have ceased to reverence, soon defy
    Their forefathers; lo! sects are formed, and split
    With morbid restlessness;[223]--the ecstatic fit
    Spreads wide; though special mysteries multiply,
    _The Saints must govern_ is their common cry;                      5
    And so they labour, deeming Holy Writ
    Disgraced by aught that seems content to sit
    Beneath the roof of settled Modesty.
    The Romanist exults; fresh hope he draws
    From the confusion, craftily incites                              10
    The overweening, personates the mad--[224]
    To heap disgust upon the worthier Cause:
    Totters the Throne;[225] the new-born Church[226] is sad
    For every wave against her peace unites.

FOOTNOTES:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)Wordsworth, William

Religion

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

Holy and heavenly Spirits as they are,
    Spotless in life, and eloquent as wise,
    With what entire affection do they prize[219]
    Their Church reformed![220] labouring with earnest care
    To baffle all that may[221] her strength impair;                   5
    That Church, the unperverted Gospel's seat;
    In their afflictions a divine retreat;
    Source of their liveliest hope, and tenderest prayer!--
    The truth exploring with an equal mind,
    In doctrine and communion they have sought[222]                   10
    Firmly between the two extremes to steer;
    But theirs the wise man's ordinary lot,
    To trace right courses for the stubborn blind,
    And prophesy to ears that will not hear.

FOOTNOTES:

[219] The reading, "Their new-born Church," printed in all editions
of the poems from 1822 till 1842, had been objected to by several
correspondents; and out of deference to their suggestions it was
altered to "Their Church reformed": but Wordsworth wrote to his
nephew and biographer, November 12, 1846, "I don't like the term
_reformed_; if taken in its literal sense as a _transformation_,
it is very objectionable" (see _Memoirs_, vol. ii. p. 113), and in
the "postscript" _to Yarrow Revisited_, _etc._, he says, "The great
Religious Reformation of the sixteenth century did not profess to be a
new construction, but a restoration of something fallen into decay, or
put out of sight."--ED.

[220] 1845.

    ... did they prize
    Their new-born Church!... 1822.

    ... do they prize
    Their new-born Church!... 1827.

[221] 1827.

    ... might ... 1822.

[222] 1827.

    In polity and discipline they sought 1822.




XLI

DISTRACTIONS


    Men, who have ceased to reverence, soon defy
    Their forefathers; lo! sects are formed, and split
    With morbid restlessness;[223]--the ecstatic fit
    Spreads wide; though special mysteries multiply,
    _The Saints must govern_ is their common cry;                      5
    And so they labour, deeming Holy Writ
    Disgraced by aught that seems content to sit
    Beneath the roof of settled Modesty.
    The Romanist exults; fresh hope he draws
    From the confusion, craftily incites                              10
    The overweening, personates the mad--[224]
    To heap disgust upon the worthier Cause:
    Totters the Throne;[225] the new-born Church[226] is sad
    For every wave against her peace unites.

FOOTNOTES:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

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