SACRED, deare Father of all things created! | |
| Whose joyfull throne of endlesse triumph stands | |
| In glorious Heaven; whose name Earth animated | |
| Proclaymeth through the compasse of all landes; | |
| I lift these humble handes, | 5 |
| Upheavde with courage of a zealous harte, | |
| Confirmde with fortitude of constant fayth, | |
| Assur’d in grace of some sweete mercies parte; | |
| Which treasures my deare hope in high heaven layth, | |
| Which comforte my soule hath. | 10 |
| And Thou, deare only Sonne of God alone! | |
| Thou precious immolacion of mankinde! | |
| Who sits on right hande of thy Father’s throne, | |
| Who fearful Sathan did in fetters binde; | |
| Whom Death alone did finde | 15 |
| To be the peerlesse champion of his foyle; | |
| Thou, that redeemedst from infernall payne | |
| Our great grandfathers, and ourselves assoyle | |
| Of our foul sinnes; nor humbled, didst disdayne | |
| For mankinde to be slayne. | 20 |
| And lastly Thou, sweete comfortable Spirite | |
| Of meekenesse, holinesse, and spotlesse love! | |
| By whose dear incense (not our vayne demerite) | |
| We purchase heritage in heaven above: | |
| Thou, that in form of Dove | 25 |
| Thy sanctified Apostles didst salute; | |
| Spirite of Truth, which doth our comforte bring; | |
| Without whose heavenly motions men are mute; | |
| By whose power in the virgine’s womb did spring | |
| Our Comforter and King! | 30 |
| And Thou, deare sacred Father! of like power, | |
| With thy most deare Sonne, sacrifice for sinne; | |
| And Thou, sweete Holy Ghost, who didst downe shower | |
| Cloven tongues of fire, true glorie for to winne; | |
| All which three Powers cloase in | 35 |
| One sacred and indivisible God! | |
| Vouchsafe, Oh! you perpetuall Highest Powers, | |
| Of equal vertues, yet in number odde, | |
| These simple fruites of my repentant howers; | |
| And with your grace’s showers | 40 |
| The temper of my feeble wittes renewe, | |
| To prosper, cherish’d with celestiall dewe. | |
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