Religion

Sponsors

by William Wordsworth 1770–1850

From Ecclesiastical Sonnets

Religion

Father! to God himself we cannot give
A holier name! then lightly do not bear
Both names conjoined, but of thy spiritual care
Be duly mindful: still more sensitive
Do Thou, in truth a second Mother, strive
Against disheartening custom, that by Thee
Watched, and with love and pious industry
Tended at need, the adopted Plant may thrive
For everlasting bloom. Benign and pure
This Ordinance, whether loss it would supply,
Prevent omission, help deficiency,
Or seek to make assurance doubly sure.
Shame if the consecrated Vow be found
An idle form, the Word an empty sound!

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “Sponsors.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/533/.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “Sponsors.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/533/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by William Wordsworth