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Original, serious, and religious poetry

by the Rev. Richard Cobbold

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 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
REFLECTION IV.
 V. 
 VI. 
  
 VII. 
  
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
  
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 XIII. 
 XIV. 
  
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 XX. 
 XXI. 
  
  
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12

REFLECTION IV.

O tell me heart, can ought of joy inspire,
The secret fervor, spirit moving fire,
Of wisdom, love, religion, peace, and bliss,
In scenes of tumult in a world like this?
O! think thee heart, for spirit stirs thee there,
And deep reflection tells thee to prefer
The silent motions of a moment's thought,
Beyond the tumult. Say then, is there ought,
But, insipidity or dread or doubt?
Disgusting vision, where the heart is stung,
By noisy clamour, and the soul is wrung
With bitter feeling, to behold mankind,
Indulge in folly, beings without mind.

13

Ah! well my heart no pleasure can bestow,
A moment's satisfaction, when 'tis so:
Yet so it is, the eye may rest awhile,
On scene like this, the countenance may smile,
The tongue may speak, but wisdom can be found,
Where virtue, love, and harmony abound.
And there alone!—The Pageants of delight,
Can only gratify our mortal sight.
But truth will rouse the dormant soul within,
And man will learn frivolity is sin.