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The poetical works of William Wordsworth

... In six volumes ... A new edition
Wordsworth, William (1770-1850)

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VOL. I.
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VOL. II.
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VOL. III.
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VOL. IV.
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THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE;
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ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS.
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PART I. FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO BRITAIN, TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE PAPAL DOMINION.
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PART II. TO THE CLOSE OF THE TROUBLES IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.
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PART III. FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE PRESENT TIMES.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II. PATRIOTIC SYMPATHIES.
 III. 
III. CHARLES THE SECOND.
 IV. 
IV. LATITUDINARIANISM.
 V. 
V. WALTON'S BOOK OF LIVES.
 VI. 
VI. CLERICAL INTEGRITY.
 VII. 
VII. PERSECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS.
 VIII. 
VIII. ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS.
 IX. 
IX. WILLIAM THE THIRD.
 X. 
X. OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
 XI. 
XI. SACHEVEREL.
 XII. 
XII.
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ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII. PLACES OF WORSHIP.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. PASTORAL CHARACTER.
 XIX. 
XIX. THE LITURGY.
 XX. 
XX. BAPTISM.
 XXI. 
XXI. SPONSORS.
 XXII. 
XXII. CATECHISING.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. CONFIRMATION.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. CONFIRMATION CONTINUED.
 XXV. 
XXV. SACRAMENT.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. THANKSGIVING AFTER CHILDBIRTH.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. VISITATION OF THE SICK.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. THE COMMINATION SERVICE.
 XXX. 
XXX. FORMS OF PRAYER AT SEA.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. FUNERAL SERVICE.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. RURAL CEREMONY .
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. REGRETS.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. MUTABILITY.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. OLD ABBEYS.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. EMIGRANT FRENCH CLERGY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. CONGRATULATION.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. NEW CHURCHES.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. CHURCH TO BE ERECTED.
 XL. 
XL. [CHURCH TO BE ERECTED.] CONTINUED.
 XLI. 
XLI. NEW CHURCH-YARD.
 XLII. 
XLII. CATHEDRALS, ETC.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. THE SAME. [INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.]
 XLV. 
XLV. [INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.]: CONTINUED.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. EJACULATION.
  
XLVII. CONCLUSION.
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EVENING VOLUNTARIES.
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POEMS, COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR, IN THE SUMMER OF 1833.
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POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION.
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SONNETS DEDICATED TO LIBERTY AND ORDER.
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SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
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VOL. V.
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[volume]

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XX. BAPTISM.

Dear 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.
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