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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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111

XXIII. CONFIRMATION.

The Young-ones gathered in from hill and dale,
With holiday delight on every brow:
'Tis past away; far other thoughts prevail;
For they are taking the baptismal Vow
Upon their conscious selves; their own lips speak
The solemn promise. Strongest sinews fail,
And many a blooming, many a lovely, cheek
Under the holy fear of God turns pale;
While on each head his lawn-robed servant lays
An apostolic hand, and with prayer seals
The Covenant. The Omnipotent will raise
Their feeble Souls; and bear with his regrets,
Who, looking round the fair assemblage, feels
That ere the Sun goes down their childhood sets.
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