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SWEET hope is soueraigne comfort of our life, | |
Our ioy in sorrow and our peace in strife, | |
The dame of beggers, and the queene of kings: | |
Can those delight in height of prosperous things | |
Without expecting still to keepe them sure? | 5 |
Can those the weight of heauy wants endure, | |
Vnlesse perswasion instant paine allay, | |
Reseruing spirit for a better day? | |
Our God, who planted in his creatures brest | |
This stop on which the wheeles of passion rest, | 10 |
Hath raysd by beames of his abundant grace | |
This strong affection to a higher place. | |
It is the second vertue which attends | |
That soule whose motion to his sight ascends. | |
Rest here, my mind; thou shalt no longer stay | 15 |
To gaze vpon these houses made of clay: | |
Thou shalt not stoope to honours, or to lands, | |
Nor golden halles, where sliding fortune stands. | |
If no false colours draw thy steps amisse, | |
Thou hast a palace of eternall blisse; | 20 |
A paradise from care and feare exempt, | |
And obiect worthy of the best attempt. | |
Who would not for so rich a country fight? | |
Who would not runne that sees a gaole so bright? | |
O thou who art our Author and our end, | 25 |
On whose large mercy chaines of hope depend, | |
Lift me to thee by thy propitious hand; | |
For lower I can find no place to stand. | |
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