Religion
(Golder Project subject term)
Represented in
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The Love Letter in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- I remember still / Her parting pledge so free; / Nor will forget the fervent wish / She breathed to Heav’n for me.
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Stanzas, To a Young Poet in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- Ah! tender youth, ye little know what care / May dare in ambush, yet waylay thy steps; / May heaven, still kindly you in favour spare, / And guide thy feet from such engulphing traps, / Which oft arrest the progress of adepts; / Who, oft are met by barriers of scorn, / And adverse fortunes,—disappointed hopes, / ’Mid which their labours painfully were borne, / Then left to meet their fates forgotten and forlorn.
- But what ennobles more the human mind / Than meditating on the works of God: / Exciting magnanimity refined / ’Bove all which wealth or honour e’er bestow’d:—
- Go on! and may you prosper in your sphere, / But mark attentive, e’er ye’ve gone afar, / Lest Envy should in unawares appear / Against thy hopes and prospects waging war, / Employing all, thy progress to debar:— / Why should I on such themes of grievance dwell? / Be stirr’d!—let no despondence e’er thee mar, / Aim to improve, as ye aspire t’excell;— / Be virtue’s friend! and Heav’n will bless thy muse.—
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An Enigma in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- An Enigma.
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A Love Sonnet, written for a Young Lady to Her Lover, to whom She soon after got Married in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- A Love Sonnet,
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Erratonga in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- “Oh! may Heaven still preserve her, / Kindly me to her restore;—
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Come to the Bush in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- And Heaven will bless with good success / A manly bold endeavour.
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Stanzas, Extemporaneously Written on a Stormy Night, Dalserf, November 4, 1833 in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- Oh Heaven! who has nature in control, / Spare! spare! oh spare! and quell the angry storm; / Oh! pity now the poor belated wretch, / The haughty niggard scorns to house from harm.
- Let Heav’n be praised! who me from such preserved, / And in His providence has kindly bless’d / Me with a home,—thus cabin’d from the storm, / Provided with a couch, on which to rest.
- I feel for those, whose fates are to endure, / The midnight hazards of the stormy waves: / Oh Heaven! shield them with thy guardian pow’r, / Them ward from wrecks, and from untimely graves.
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Wairau:—or Col. W—’s Dirge to the Memory of His Brother in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- Though all to their fates, so resistless must bow,
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The Black Seal in New Zealand Minstrelsy
- She says, “for me she’ll cross the sea.” / Oh blest!—my heart bounds full of glee; / May Heaven bring her safe to me!
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Canto Second in The New Zealand Survey
- Have they stood / As they appear, since first the great command / Was given, “Let there be!” and earth uprose?—
- Now looking round contemplating the scene / As it before me lies—combined with what / Is farther known, more than is here discerned:— / All speak of revolutions in the past!
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Canto Third in The New Zealand Survey
- Now, th’ ancient world, when from the depths of nought / It rose to being by the great command / Which called it forth, as when an infant’s born; / It had progressive stages, and its times / Of revolutionary changes, meet / For growing to maturity,
- And in the nature of His bounteous grace, / He called these islands forth, as to prepare / New scenes of active life, and stud this field / Of emptiness with other scenes of bliss, / In fruitful lands, as might outvie the north / With all its bulk of continental shores!
- It must be clothed with all such requisites / That can be called attractive, and conduce / To welfare, in a future time ordained,— / (So far as elemental weal’s concerned / Consistent with the curse which hangs o’er earth, / With much of mercy, undeserved attached!)— / In genial clime, as capable to yield / Much paradisian cheer, when well prepared! / Since man, where’er he dwells, must earn by toil / His living—thus himself declaring far / Above the brute capacity of life, / And owning a dependence on the care / Of bounteous Providence—he must exert / Th’ endowments of his reason, and his skill, / As talents in his care to be improved; / Thus earning happiness, such as the earth / Has in its power to yield; though he must rove / To seek his welfare, or another home, / As prompted by his emigrating will; / Or love of acquisition in a part / Of Nature’s earth, that he can call his own!
- The earth’s deep centre with its magazine / Of great resistless powers, proves a reserve / To finish what’s begun; which, when desired, / Gives forth its energies to crown the work— / Which nothing but omnipotence can do!— / As man would prove his edifice complete, / By having raised the copestone to its place! / That powerful word, which issues promp behest, / Has agencies as powerful to perform!
- Such the results which earthquakes have produced / All for good purposes, to be explained / In far futurity; when will shine out / Benevolence divine, in what may now / Be judged quite the reverse! So Providence / Works His own certain way, as one prepares / A welcome to some distant-coming friend, / Of whom none but himself can be aware!
- Thus at the first when the Almighty called / Earth from its nothingness, ’twas but a mass / Of heterogenous matter,—yet ’twas “Good!” / In its first stage of being, as the base / On which improvements might be still enlarged / In their respective periods; so with each / Fair isle, when it was to existence called.
- Thus the omnipotent Jehovah has / His armies of most powerful agencies / T’ effect some purpose, when He wills to call / Them into action, either for a work / Of sudden effort, or for that, as much / In power, though of long persevering toil! / So, He, in His wise providence, looked down, / And saw the ocean of the unknown South / A welt’ring waste of waters, void of aught / Betokening of some peculiar care;
- As mighty revolutions have occurred, / In ages long anterior to man, / And are transpiring even in his day, / So who can mark that finger which directs / In their occurrence, guiding to their end? / Or hear the fiat which commands them forth? / Him, whom all nature owns as sovereign Lord, / Whose word brought forth creation from the abyss / Of nothingness, reared high the ancient hills / Ere man was called to being; Him whose power / As efficacious now, as then, remains; / Yes, Him all nature readily obeys, / His plans beneficient will execute / For future good, by quick or slow degrees / As the appointments given!
- so thus combined / The builders in their energies, which tend / All to one given point, according to / The method of their work, as by behest; / The plan’s incorporated in their lives / As instinct, with no other knowledge theirs, / To make them run erratic from their toils / But give adherence faithfully to the end, / While forming rocky structures from the brine! / Though generations, as they build, may die / And in their works their bodies leave entombed / To petrify, (brave architects indeed! / They build their own mausoleum of fame!)— / Yet each, succeeding, takes the matter up / Where the preceeding left it, carrying on / The great design unaltered, till complete / It gains the water’s surface, and is stayed! / As they, to wherefores asked, would thus reply— / “Thus far no further our commission runs,
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Stanzas — To the Memory of Wm. Swainson, Esq., F.R.S. &c., — Departed hence, December 7, 1855 in The New Zealand Survey
- Though through all parts of nature, as a whole, / He could each labyrinth and nook survey, / As to him, darkness lighten’d were to day;
- On earth the works of God he has explored, / To aid his fellows of mankind to love / The author of their beings, and approve / Hiswond’rous ways; and in His will accord / Though seeming strange to ignorance, that strove / To give the lie to truths, which Nature teaches of her Lord.
- Thus made he earth agreeable, while he / But waited on until such time would come, / When he’d receive his welcomed summons home, / And be from earth’s absorbing cares set free; / When thus, exultingly beyond the tomb, / He’d reap fruitions of his hopes in immortality.
- The page of Nature with revealed Truth, / To a relationship he well could bring, / As from one Author both at first did spring, / That one the other might expound forsooth; / While thus their harmonies his soul could sing, / Anticipating bliss above, he bore his heavenward growth!
- He now must know, what oft he long’d to know— / “Whether our souls, amid the joys of heaven, / Would have to them a kind permission given, / To scan more perfectly God’s works below;* / Or range th’ extended universe, t’enliven / Extatic praise to love divine, for aye to overflow!”
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Canto Fourth in The New Zealand Survey
- As science, now, strange secrets would reveal / In other ancient countries, which bespeak / Creative wisdom, and omniscient care, / With forethought unmistaken in its aim; / In other instances than only one, / Are manifest as shewn in changes wrought / Upon creations structure, in the lapse / Of untold ages, not to be o’erlooked, / Recorded all in Nature’s archives, which / Depositories prove of what has been; / For plants now found extinct are buried deep / In earth’s dark bosom, petrified, and changed / To other solid substances, the work / Of wond’rous revolutions long ere man / Was known to have existence; while their place, / And high above the stratum, they enjoyed, / Another race of vegetation fills!—
- So now, as we yon woodland scenes survey, / The question will arise—Whence this display?— / Could from another land the seeds have come / Borne in the crops of birds, which hither came, / And planted been by droppings? Or have they / Been borne by some far inland stream along / Into the ocean, and by tossing waves / Have hither driven been, while to and fro / They have been buffeted, yet floating light / Upon the surface—happ’ning next to catch / Upon the hills, as from the deep they rose, / And there have germinated?—But the like / According as some travellers assert / Are nowhere to be found! We must conclude / That these, as when earth first was gaily clad / By the creating word, as “Let there be!” / And so the thing commanded was produced;— / Although that “word” ’s unaudible to ears / Of human curiosity, yet still / Its power can well be felt in all due time / Where it must be applied.
- So whence the origin of those that be, / Replacing those of yore? but through that power / Invested in the laws of nature, which / Fills up the void, where needed, of a kind, / And in such power proclaim “a Great Supreme!” / Whose wisdom in the working of such laws / May well be traced, when truth is duly sought / T’impart instruction without erring aim, / Or such rebuke, as silence would “Conceit;” / Or prove some vain philosopher “a fool!”
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A Fine Morning in The New Zealand Survey
- So selfish, as having a right to complain; / We treat unknown reasons with sinful disdain; / Consid’ring all nature is under His care! / Since fair weather’s ours, let us never forget / T’ employ to good purpose the boon to us given / ’Tis thus we our gratitude best can declare / Bespeaking still farther the blessings of Heaven.
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Canto First in The New Zealand Survey
- And Superstition fain would hide the head / Convinced of folly in its rigid rites / Of formal services, and outward show, / Where mammon more is served than Him who claims / The humble heart’s devotion as his due. / Come from a sterile soil, where stunted views / Of holy life but grovel upon earth, / And never can expand to heav’nly heights, / Nor peace nor charity extend to all / Who differ may in conscience from his rule; / He finds some strange misgivings in his heart, / As there, some voice for first to him reveal’d, / A deep impression makes, as ’twould declare / That with his former ideas of truth / Were mingled much of error!—such bestirs / Reflections on the history of the past / With sighings for the future, while he strives / To raze what habit long has rooted deep!
- God’s ways are on the waters! who can mark / His foot-prints? or upon the passing winds / Discern His movements? How He hastes along / Appointing, to His servants, each his task / To be performed, and that with ready mind! / For in their hearts alone His will’s declared; / And blest indeed is he who thus receives / Some great appointment of importance full / To all mankind, bespeaking one esteem’d / As worthy of that trust on him imposed!—
- In this I see the hand of Providence / Marking the course of great events to come; / Aye such events, that will an aspect give / Unto the history of the world, which have / Been never dreamed of by the wisest sage / Deep read in politics; and who has conn’d / Th’ economy of nations, or the affairs / Of man, as he’s connected with the world.
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The Two Guides in The New Zealand Survey
- But ah! to be recall’d the past / Can never, to reverse old choosings! / There’s where the misery lies, to last / Eternally, with painful musings!— / (Unless we can obtain in time, / That aid which cancels all past errors, / And to the soul gives peace sublime, / With heav’n-like joys displacing terrors)—
- ’Tis thus we Reason should prefer— / ’Tis wisdom, worthy all painstaking!— / And so her guidance seek with care, / While Fancy’s ’lurements false forsaking! / As Wisdom’s ways are pleasant ways, / So Reason with them harmonizes; / There true enjoyment’s found, as says / That “Truth” which ev’ry truth comprises
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On Passing Two Ladies in Deep Mourning in The New Zealand Survey
- When pride adopts the garb of woe, / Such mournings seem mere empty show, / And grief as but a jest!
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Canto Fifth in The New Zealand Survey
- So has New Zealand favoured been at length / Of being recognised, a place on which / A dispensation good might be bestow’d!— / While, guided by a Power, that’s oft ignored / By many, who to scepticism are prone, / Have enterprizing Britain sent her sons / Themselves t’ establish here; another germ, / Of some great future nation to implant, / Britannia’s institutions to extend; / As if that Power who rules,—and overrules / The world’s affairs by man himself,—had chosen / This agent, best some purpose to fulfil, / As tending to the happiness of all; / Thus to Britannia’s guardianship is giv’n / New Zealand, where a nation may be reared / To prove “a Britain” of the Southern Seas!
- so that virtue well might reign / The source of all prosperity and peace! / The ultimate design of providence / In peopling earth, subduing desert wilds, / Is now in progress; where a clearing’s formed, / A good beginning’s seen, prelusively / Of happier events to be brought forth, / Though still in future hid; as harvests good, / Of plenteous return, are the results / Of industry in spring; so future things / Indicative of great events to come / In the still further future, are results / Of small beginnings buried in the past! / Thus ev’ry humble effort that’s put forth / In such a wilderness, to make a home, / That effort bears its own proportion to
- To them in kindness has the ocean’s breeze,— / As bidden by an overruling power, / They knew not how to own,—wafted at length / That generous hearted “Cook,” who wisely sowed / Upon their shores, the seeds of various use / In wholesome fare; and useful animals, / To them unknown, let loose to multiply,
- That ancient who (3) / Of late departed life,—who in his youth
- well he could relate / Of fearful broils in which he had engaged / Since such a time, as savage manhood grew / Upon him, fond to shew himself for war / Courageous and expert, inflamed with zeal / To drink the blood of foes; but having learned / Some lessons, in his later years akin, / To sacred truth, impregnating his soul / With feelings of humanity,
- And next to Cook, he could remember well / When dauntless rev’rend missionaries came / Amongst them, wild and savage though they were,
- Though these surrounding scenes, where’er the eye / Of observation turns, have undergone / Great revolutions buried in the past: / Another of importance yet awaits; / Nay, is it not in progress even now?— / It is not always revolutions come / With sudden change, as of an earthquake’s shock; / Or, as in politics, when discontent, / Through insurrection, long in secret hatched, / Bursts forth in civil war, o’erturning all
- But this is true,— / They’ve wander’d far from that great parting scene / On Shinar’s plain! Some providential hap / Must have some families brought toward these shores / As forced by tempests from their fishing grounds, / Unable to return; so they’ve become / Mere outcasts from society, as ’twere / To prove to a philosophising world / What man is when apart—left to himself / With nought but corrupt passions for a guide, / With reason overpower’d! Then far below / Civilisation’s standard will he sink / Till scarcely ’bove the level of a brute!— / Thus have they had such dire experience, / As from such stocks they multiplied, and grew, / By numerous generations, into tribes, / Forgetful of all morals, which mayhap / Their sires have held, although however small, / ’Mid ancient social circles in old homes!
- Yet nothwithstanding such degraded state, / They shew themselves to claim a kindred tie / To all of Adam’s race, ev’n by their works, / However rude, formed through necessity; / Yet some bespeaking fancy, also skill, / Ingenious in their kinds, with lack of means, / Which others would for similar purpose use:— / All speak a claim, as ardent to support / This their memorial of a brotherhood; / As much, as would, on Jordan’s banks, when reared / The testifying altar of the Jews!
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Canto Second in The New Zealand Survey
- So here displayed / Are num’rous products of the human mind, / All proving immortality in man! / In such an active principle evolves / A struggling strife to rise to something great! / Thus stern endeavours to achieve a name / Cause many works to be produced, ordained / By providence to benefit the race / Of man, in his progression from a low / To higher state of being, upon earth. / Such works, results of lab’ring thoughts, while hands
- Thus geniuses, however much or small / Their toils may have appreciated been, / They’ve had their share alloted them to do:— / As certain implements have each their use / In hands of skillful artizans,—so they / Are means which Providence employs to bring / About some distant blessing for mankind: / And when such is obtained, what is it? but / A prelude of some others yet to come!
- WELL DONE! Ye benefactors of mankind; / Whatever be the countries of your birth, / You well deserve the thanks of ev’ry age! / For well ye have fulfilled your trust,—improved / That talent once alloted to your care / By Him who chose you as a means to shew / Mankind His mercy, when He looked upon / Their toils multifarious; and suggested how / Such might be eased; a proof of love divine,
- how much the works of industry / Must have increased, and those, how much improved, / As one age on another has advanced; / So the barbarian here is skill displays / According as necessities would urge, / Though somewhat rude compared to what is shewn / By the sage artizan, yet much is seen / That might surpass th’ adept would means allow, / As proof that he’s a unit of our race!—
- progression’s nature, in the arts / Of life, so beneficial for mankind!— / Yea, all revealing to th’ mind / The ways of Providence,—how He pourtrays / On this, or other mind of chosen ones / Some problem to be solved, if not in full, / Yet partly, as their finitude can reach!— / Thus such inventions shewn, either for power / Concentrated, much weakness to assist; / Or such as would out-strip the lightning’s speed; / Bespeak great blessings, making due descent / In course of time, and calculated all / For lessening oppressions griefs and groans / And aiding to the happiness of man!
- Whatever scheme on which the mind’s engaged / In active labour to unfold its web / Of intricacies, while the attempt is made, / With failure often meeting, yet that scheme
- May Britain ever glory at the call / Of Heav’n upon her, as an instrument / For spreading truth and science through the world! / Of sacred truths a blest repository / She proves—and whence proceed to ev’ry land / Such treasures rich; and an example meet / She sets surrounding nations; while t’ engage / In such like undertakings with good will / She shews that nought she loses! Well she may / Be styled a “Nation of Philanthrophists,” / As shewn through all gradations of her sons; / As prompt to raise the fallen, help the weak,
- How varied other works around display’d / Of ornament, whose elegance bespeak / Much cultivated taste of those who such / Devised, or patronised, as others would / Man’s sternness for utility; thus Art, / Like a sweet sister Grace, as handmaid to / Broad shoulder’d Industry of rougher mould, / Her trust fulfils, endeavoring to smooth / Th’ asperities still left our nature’s face; / And clothes that nakedness which oft appears / As the result of man’s primeval sin!— / While multiplying much of beauty left, / As worthy admiration, tending all / To cheer from melancholy’s painful glooms!
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Stanzas — On hearing of the Sudden Demise of Mr. G. Copeland, on May 22, 1866, Aged 65 Years in The New Zealand Survey
- Ye friends bereft, ’mid tears rejoice / At his advancement—’tis his joy! / His footsteps follow—hear his voice, / “Be sure to meet me ’bove the sky.”
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Canto First in The New Zealand Survey
- If such an office, as interpreter / Of nature’s language, be on me imposed / By Him who made us, as He saw most fit, / According to His purpose,—be it mine / To give expression to an impulse felt, / As giv’n through what’s presented to the eye, / A pleasing spectacle!—meanwhile the Muse / Craves what assistance, He to grant may deign, / To aid our efforts in this humble lay.
- looking up to Him who knows to turn / Such wayward crosses to some future good!
- In all, the hand of Providence he sees, / As trying how one’s energies may meet / The magnitude of great emergencies; / Or training him to fortitude, to cope / With greater trials should they e’er occur, / As something yet unseen, held in reserve!— / Or prove that worldly gains are shadows all, / After the struggling one has such t’ obtain! / A means by which great lessons are us taught / If such we are inclined to understand.
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In Memorium in The New Zealand Survey
- And now St. James’ Park a scene display’d / Of dazzling beauty, seldom to be seen, / As art and nature had become allied / In cheerfulness, opposed to all that’s sad! / The sun seem’d brighter in the azure sky, / And seem’d the grass to show a lovelier green; / For all felt gratitude to Him, who holds / The balance just of Power, dispensing right / The awards of justice to the fallen foe, / Of peace, as prelude to prosperity!
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A Dinner Hour Reverie in The New Zealand Survey
- To have this faith within my heart, / And nature’s charms before mine eye, / May these still buoy my spirits up, / And cares convert to inward joy.
- The sun shines brightly in the sky, / The air is calm without a breeze, / The waters in the bay are still, / Reflecting deeply hills and trees. / And there the ethe’rs hue is shewn, / With drapery thin of clouds so white, / As nature gladly would reflect / A Deity’s perfections bright; / As these are in his works pourtray’d,
- How sad when one so far is left / As to despondency a prey, / To fall, as some have tempted been / Deranged, to cast themselves away! / Like him we lately from the waves / Drew lifeless—a sad wreck, o’ercome / By wayward fortunes; thus forlorn / Of hope, he fled his earthly home. / Alas, temptations such as this / Are apt to rise in minds of gloom, / Oh spare kind Heaven such victims frail; / ’Middark’ning cares their minds illume!
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To a Mountain Daisy in The New Zealand Survey
- For He who cares for thee, sweet flower, / And paints thee with the choicest hue; / Can cherish all in hapless hour, / Who in Him trust, as shewn by you. / As on you shines the light of day, / That makes ye look with joyous smile; / So may His countenance alway / Shine on my soul, all glooms to foil! / How good from thee such lessons pure / To draw, that might dull ignorance teach, / Inspiring hopes, which bliss ensure, / More than dogmatic doctors preach!
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Preface in The New Zealand Survey
- Such “Knights exemplar” are, as it were, bringing up the rear of the human race, who have fallen far behind in the general march of improvement, that they too at the grand review may be present, and so be included as fellow-sharers in the approval of the “Supreme Inspector,” and also be united with their more privileged brethren in the bonds of Peace! In this, may not the finger of Providence be seen guiding to the desired end!
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England’s Hope in The New Zealand Survey
- When on the empire’s stool he’s raised, / Britannia’s sceptre swaying; / The prudence, then, of Sire be praised, / Who trained him to obeying! / Though hard to learn such lessons well, / (And much it needs good schooling) / Yet how the advantages will tell, / When he is set to ruling! / For best he rules, who best has learn’d / Obedience to his Maker; / Whose blessing on each honor earn’d / Rejoices such partaker!
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Ode to the Rising Sun in The New Zealand Survey
- So sure as when the sun shall rise, / With shadowy glooms receding, / Shall prospects bright beyond the skies / Earth’s trials be succeeding. / An endless day with endless joy, / With nought thereto relating / To be withdrawn!—Let such employ / All energies in waiting.
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Condolence in The New Zealand Survey
- Great hopes has she for future good, / Seeing he trained his youths to virtue’s cause, / Her princes and her kings; / Corruption checking in the bud, / Aspirants bending to respect the laws, / Bespoke great future things! / Yea, grand events of vast import / To the advancement of the world at large, / As the commands of Heaven! / May such console, and cheer her heart, / While th’ honors feeling of so great a charge, / In worth immortal given! / Now, future generations shall / Look back and pay respect to all his worth / Avowed for imitation; / A grand criterion this of all / That’s great or good, in heaven or earth, / Or worthy in a nation!
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Preface in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- It is true, the idea of love, in many minds of a reprehensible nature, is often associated with notions, which has no affinity whatever with love in its true character! The affections of the heart, which are as an impress of God’s likeness on the soul, can surely not be deserving of that degraded sort of esteem, with which some would regard them.
- True love is worthy of the best respect that can be shewn; and not to be ashamed; seeing it reflects, as in a mirror, that spirit of truth, with which the affections were inspired at the beginning; and had pronounced upon it the best of blessings; and it is on the merit of such, that human happiness on earth chiefly depends. But, how much has
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Saturnalia Astray. — or, Christmass in the South in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- Such was the custom of the heathen fathers / According to traditions in old yore, / Of northen superstitions, as when gathers / The gloomy storm-cloud’s bulk; so they’d adore / Their fancied Gods and firmly thus believe / They did true homage; hoping to recieve / Much good from his return, as did their fathers.
- But the historic Muse unfolds the hind’rings* / Of such a change, which southern climes require; / And shows how corrupt Church amid her wand’rings, / A whoring went from Truth, as she’d desire / After some heathen cerimonies vain, / With gaudy pomp attached, and lucre’s gain / Obstructing thus Truth’s progress with such hind’rings!
- To prove a nursery to superstition, / Would heathen rites enjoy a christian name: / And, as to better some a base condition, / Would charities commingle for good fame; / Yet all for seeming shew in adding cheer,
- A “Merry Christmass!—What a salutation, / To be pronouced by any christian lips! / As if the Author of thy soul’s salvation, / Would honour take from such, or festive cups;— / Are thy perceptions blind, and cannot see / The vileness of such senuality, / And blasphemy in such a salutation?
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New Year Salutations, for 1863 in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- Good things of the past, bespeak much for the future, / Though nought of self merit in them may claim: / For, ’tis all of grace; in the act, and its nature, / We’re only mere agents unworthy of fame! / What gift is conferr’d on us, may we improve it; / ’Twas not to lie idle, or put to abuse!— / Where energy’s roused, Heaven’s aid will approve it, / And joy shall result to our souls’ special use!
- ’Tis well to glance back on the paths we have travell’d, / To see where we’ve err’d, or have faild to take heed; / That future enigmas may soon get unrevall’d, / Which puzzling may seem; and so aid to succeed!
- ’Tis hope, blessed hope in the future, that cheers / The heart in its sadness, and keeps it above / Whelming waves of affliction, from sinking in fears; / Aye, even when quench’d are the motives of love. / Oh! hard it is truly to be victimised, / As having one’s feelings the prey of despair: / Kind Heaven, look on such; let be realized / That hope in some change which their joy might declare!
- To think of such, now civ’lization enlightens / Our lot in our day, may we grateful be found!— / Thus, as we look forward, the prospect much brightens, / While duty is ours, in faith’s works to abound! / See! are we not nearing the borders sublime, / Of that dispensation, Millennium will cheer? / So, gladly let’s welcome that forth-coming time, / By bidding all round us, A happy New Year!
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Canto First in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- The happiness of Heaven, who can conceive, / A part from love’s sweet influence? ’Tis the light / That beams in glory from th’ effulgent face / Of Deity, and sheds, through Heaven’s expanse, / An equal share of bliss, and brightness pure! / No diminution’s felt at farthest reach, / (If such there be) from centre, as its source; / For, Love gives glory unrestrain’d, and strong, / As magnified ten thousand fold, to all, / Convincing all alike that “God is Love!” / Yea, in whose soul such love exists, and proves / The emanation of God’s Love, there can / No darkness be: for light and life maintain, / To the exclusion of all shade of care.— / Such is the joy of Heaven.
- TLove is the never-ending theme of Heaven, / In everlasting praise! It is the zest / Of all enjoyment theirs, which never fails / T’ excite new raptures in each ardent soul, / Increasing, and enlarging the full flow / Of holy joy, which no decreasing knows.
- This theme is Love, and its Philosophy, / The wisdom of its nature we’ll discuss / In form of song. May Heaven assist this strain! / And may this song in sweetness well accord / With all the holiest feelings of the soul, / As they a kinship claim with heavenly loves; / Yea, such that best assimilate with Truth, / Whose garb is Righteousness, whose joy is Peace
- with Him / MyLove goes forth—His nature’s Love itself! / And, Him will I uphold in all My Love!”
- Oh Isha! my Beloved!—dear to my heart!— / Part of myself!—The darling of my soul! / Second to Deity! to me, thou art; / MyJoy! in thee, is happiness complete!— / My heart was lonely, notwithstanding all / Around would joy impart; but who was there / To whom I could communicate a thought? / Or would rejoice mine ears with speech, to shew / Intelligence of soul as kindred pure, / So as to prove mine equal, or take part
- This opportunity, reserved for man,
- The very counterpart of Love divine, / Impress’d upon his soul!—Thus, God alone / Clams th’ Authorship of man, distinguish’d by / “This mark” even as human authors own / Some trade mark theirs, as token of the right / They have in aught of worth call’d by their names;
- All Nature emanating from the will / Of Him who call’d creation from the depths / Of nothingness, into existence fair, / An impress bears of that impulse devine, / Which then accompanied the creating word, / Acknowledging the Author as Supreme! / Love is the badge by which man’s soul’s discern’d / To be the Image of th’ Eternal Sire;
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An Admonition in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- “Weep not for me; I am not lost, / Though not in the old tenement I’m found; / But gone to where eternal joys abound;— / Time’s Jordan now is crossed! / “Weep not for me, no cares are mine; / My pains, and sorrows all, are left behind; / I triumph now o’er every ill combined; / And in full glory shine! / Your weeping never can avail / Me to recall from these bright scenes of bliss: / But rather seek ye untold happiness, / Which here can sole prevail!
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Canto Second in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- “Affliction turns the soul from earth to Heaven.” / Her confidence thus fix’d, she now can wait / With patience Heaven’s decree to say “Enough; / Now give her rest:—her, set at liberty / From falshood’s bondage, and a worldly hell, / Where plighted love has proved itself a Cheat!
- Still, what is Love? and what its principles / Of vital Truth?—Oh! for a living coal / From off the sacred altar, such that touch’d / The lips of rapt Isaiah, when he felt / His inability to grasp his theme: / So may some hand devine such task perform, / And touch my lips; yes touch my rising thoughts; / To purge off all impurity; so that / The Muse may be more capable, to treat / The various subjects, which themselves present / For due elucidation in this song.
- How good is love, reciprocated love: / When hearts are knit together, with that tie, / Which binds there closely to the throne of Heaven! / Such happy union Heaven can best approve; / Such happy pair can through life’s pilgrimage / Go hand in hand companions;—bosom friends / In every time of need; and ready be / To hold each other up, should adverse things / Their steps waylay: or cheer each other on, / Where aught, which tends to grieve, might them befall: / Such fellowship, how happy! ’Tis foretaste / Of bliss beyond the confines of this world!
- On looking through the history of life, / We see the wisdom of God’s providence; / In making man the being that he is;
- Thus, Love will prove its virtue; and declare / Itself an active principle of life, / As part and parcel of the soul of man; / And prove a link, a most important link, / Of close connection with its prize in Heaven.
- ’Twas all delight, and harmony, and peace; / With not a shade of trial to becloud / The happy days and hours of sinless love! / But when the Tempter came, to interfere / With primal joys, by tempting the glad pair / To break their cov’nant union with their God; / Ah! then they felt what ne’er before was known, / A change in all their mutual joy!
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The Picture of a Poet in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- His nature chiefly is composed of love; / Though his the shrinking meekness of a dove; / Yet fervent are—as kindled from above— / Th’ emotions of his soul; / While Nature round / Would stir his latent raptures, which control / His actions chief;
- Things lovely makes him still rehearse / In song his feelings, and rejoice, / As hearing Heaven’s cheering voice,
- Though ’mid the stern realities of life / He is obliged to move, and in their strife / Be actively engaged; though troubles rife / Involve him ’mid their cares; / Yet even then, / Another life he leads, which still declares, / He is not wholly of this world; / While proving oft like Heaven’s herald / Among his fellow-men!
- His head is crown’d with a halo of love, / Smiling in holiness, strong in faith; / The light in his eyes is calm, and sweet: / He roams from the earth to the realms above, / To seek for the glory of love, he saith; / And rests his song at God’s own feet!
- But who can blind the poet’s marking eye? / To him, ’tis of an order, as t’ imply / His Maker’s special grace; in which descry / He must, a certain duty / To be perform’d. / So, ever is his soul in quest of beauty; / No matter, if on Nature’s face, / Or human works he such can trace, / Such make him feel as charm’d! / So that his bosom’s made to beat with joy / Nor can he other than his powers employ / To teach, the blinded, how they might descry / God’s goodness to the world, / And render praise: / That all around may gladly have unfurl’d / The banner of sweet brotherhood; / Averting ills, enhancing good, / Man’s nature prone to raise!
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Priestly Bigotry. an epigram in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- Priestly Bigots with truth in arrears, / Themselves exert, contracting the domain / Of heavenly freedom: while their victims gain’d / Are soul degraded, full of creature-fears: / Yes, round their souls vile superstition’s mesh / Is wove, as spiders would their prey secure!
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A Lay on Wanganui in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- Well, there they are;—substrata now, / Of sandy soil above them grown / With vegetation clad, t’avow / The plan of Providence forth-shewn.
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Canto Fourth in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- To have true love existing in the heart, / Is worth a world of wealth! It is the mine, / Whence all domestic happiness comes forth, / In every grade of life—can be produced
- The matter much she ponder’do’er and o’er, / And in connection, on the ploughman thought; / For, when comparing things as they appear’d, / To what her fancy—no vain fancy this— / Would picture forth beneath the care of him / She cherish in her heart,—the ploughman George! / —She could not but feel trammel’d by the force / Of such untoward ettiquette, and sigh, / “Oh! could we come to conversation,—then / My heart would feel releived; or know the worst
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Canto Third in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- What can try more affection’s truth, than when / A change of fortune, unforeseen, occurrs, / To blight once happy prospetcs? or when comes
- Now, to illustrate such a doctrine given. / Permit the Muse such instances to give / That best can stir th’ affections of the heart,— / The best affections bent on virtue’s course / Which best accord with Heaven’s eternal truth!
- But oft it haps, ’midbouyant hopes of bliss, / View’d in the future, charming to behold, / Like telescopic scenes, for beauty’s sheen, / That wayward things will yet one’s path beset, / ’S ifProvidence had doom’d his lot, to be / Far otherwise, than what he for himself / Had chosen; or the one on whom his heart / Is fix’d, is not appointed as—“mine own!”
- Hail sweet companionship! All hail! to such / That proves the coupling of two kindred hearts, / Whose hopes and feelings are alike;—embued
- Here is a scene which Angels might admire! / It is so like ‘LOVE’s light’, which beams from Heaven / On man’s condition, smitten by his sin! / What an avowal! ’Twas submission meek / To Heaven’s decree!—See his large heart of truth / Defying sorrows, which would others scare: / Here is True Love in all its fullness shewn; / Such; that must merit long and full renown! / Go lover, likewise Do; and turn not from / Thy lov’d one, ’mid lost fortunes, or in woes; / Such, that o’er-ruling Providence ordains,
- Recovering slowly from her sore disease, / Though sad was the infliction, yet in time, / A christian resignation to the will / Of Providence, caused sorrows to depart, / And leave her mind in cheerful happy trim, / By calling in the aid of other powers, / Or faculties, not hitherto required / To take the place of sight, now wholly lost; / While with enlighten’d mind, well store with truth,
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Canto Fifth in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- Thus, forward to life’s close, on earth, they look,
- that they / Should introduce God’s worship in their home. / At this, he first was silent; ’twas a theme / He had not yet consider’d; though in truth / He could not such condemn; but rather felt
- Self-will’d and stubborn; for contentions, fond / The way of peace, a lesson never learn’d; / Or was forgot, in zeal, herself to prove / A worthy convert to the church of Rome, / In striving there to drive her husband too; / Whose better knowledge would such thoughts resist. / This was, throughout, the bone of endless strife; / On this, all other oppositions hinged, / As she the devil’s agent would enact, / To drive the victim-husband on to woe!
- So, such shall aye / Be his employment, till his journey ends, / When He’s absorb’d into th’ ETERNITY / Of far Futurity; as when the ship / With all its freight is safely moor’d at length, / Within the destined haven of its rest! / How varied are the dispensations given / From out Time’s budget as he posts along: / To this, of love; to that, of much rebuke: / To some, of peace; to others, war and strife; / To this. a disappointment; joy, to that;— / To persons, and to nations, each their dues’ / According as their merits mark their doom: / Thus, like a courier, makes he sure despatch / Of business, doing all his Sovereign’s will;— / And, who dare such gainsay?— What is the lot, / Whether or not expected, to us given, / We must take up instanter!
- When from the bosom of ETERNITY, / Time first his course began, then forth he sped,
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Canto Sixth in The Philosophy of Love. [A Plea in Defence of Virtue and Truth!] A Poem in Six Cantos, with Other Poems
- How well it is to moralize on Love, / Recounting all the bliss its truth contains! / As Heav’n imposes duties, on our lives, / To be fulfill’d; so leaves He such to be / Perform’d, according to our means, or as / Our sev’ral natures will allow, the due / Accomplishment of all that is required. / As none has been restricted to one mode, / Or bound down to one form of instinct; as / The tribes inferior, which each class controls. / So, man is blest with freedom, as becomes / His reason, to adopt what course he deems / Best for the purpose in his nature woven, / When seeking out the partner of his life! / Thus, where he can his prudence exercise, / And in consistency with Heaven’s just laws, / His part perform, such laws his wisdom, which, / According to such laws obey’d, rewards / With comfort, and domestic joys in store!
- When looking o’er the lottery of life, / Those blanks, or prizes each would seem to draw, / Such, as to purblind man they would appear;— / Yes, man purblind, with all his thoughts awry, / Who can’t descern the hand of Providence / In the appointments giv’n; or make his will / Be in conformity with this, his prayer, / “Thy will be done on earth, as ’tis in Heaven!” / But would the lot, appointed him, ascribe / Unto some myth, call’d “Chanec, or ruling fate.”
- But where such state is not—no special friend / T’ absorb affection’s flow—love’s principle / Must have some course of action, as it is / A spirit which can ne’er be idly hid; / Or be inactive in some way of good; / Unless it has become deseased,—deranged / From its true nature,—so engend’ring hate, / Misanthrophy, and such pernicious ills,
- Thus far my song; now here the Muse may stay. / With weak and faltring wing she has pursueb / Thə subject more than first had been devised; / Yet, what has been attempted merely shews / The earthly outskirts of the holy theme. / Though step by step beyond her first essay, / Induced to venture thus, as fain to soar / To heights which loom afar; however high
Searching
For several reasons, including lack of resource and inherent ambiguity, not all names in the NZETC are marked-up. This means that finding all references to a topic often involves searching. Search for Religion as: "Religion". Additional references are often found by searching for just the main name of the topic (the surname in the case of people).
Other Collections
The following collections may have holdings relevant to "Religion":
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, which has entries for many prominent New Zealanders.
- Archives New Zealand, which has collections of maps, plans and posters; immigration passenger lists; and probate records.
- National Library of New Zealand, which has extensive collections of published material.
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, which has extensive holdings on the Auckland region and New Zealand military history.
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which has strong holdings in Tāonga Māori, biological holotypes and New Zealand art.
- nzhistory.net.nz, from the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.