University of Virginia Library


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Saturday Complin.

Hymn XXVIII.

[My soul; what's all this world to thee]

My soul; what's all this world to thee;
This world of sin and wo:
Where only sense can tast its sweets,
And those unwholsom too?
Truth is thy food, truth thy delight;
Which cannot here be free:
Thy mind was born to know and love
What this life ne're can see.
Malicious world, how dost thou lay
and cover thy false baits!
Here, those of pleasure, there, of gain;
Each for our ruine waits.
Unhappy we, it is our fault;
'Tis we our life abuse:
The world presents a furnisht shop
And we the tools misuse.
So have I seen a litle child,
If Nurse but turn her ey;
Instead of heft, take hold o'th blade,
And cut it self and cry.
This litle child, alas, am I;
Self-will'd, self-wounded too:

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But, Lord, turn not thy face away;
Lest I my self undo.
O make me stil so use this world,
That I the other gain:
O make me so the other love,
That this its end attain.
Its end, to breed up souls for heav'n;
Then be it self new drest:
No more corruption, no more change;
But one perpetual rest.
To Father, Son and holy Ghost,
The undivided Three,
One equal glory, one same praise,
Now and for ever be.