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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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