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Original, serious, and religious poetry

by the Rev. Richard Cobbold

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 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
  
 VII. 
REFLECTION VII.
  
 VIII. 
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REFLECTION VII.

Go to ye wise, ye learned of the earth,
Ye who can boast of wealth, and pride, and birth,
Go to and tell me, can ye think to rise,
In midst of nothingness beyond the skies?
Ye lift yourselves, and puff, and snuff the air,
As if the world were made for ye. Beware
The world has nothing, nothing worthy pride,
No good to boast of, nothing to divide
Amidst her votaries but strife, and hate,
Disgusting follies, pride, and pomp, and state;
Some feeble pageants, momentary dreams
Of fancied pleasures; with a bliss that seems
Enchanting to the eye; but ask the mind
How much delight the intellect can find,

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In half those treasures which the world would call
The summum bonum; chief of all in all.
Go to, go to, ye think yourselves above
The herd of creatures that delight to rove
O'er nature's face; ye swell, and boast, and bear,
The outward form of sanctity; but are
Within deceitful; ye deceive your hearts,—
The world, no wisdom or delight imparts.
But be ye wise, and take advice as given;
The world gives nothing; Revelation, Heaven.