| O Lord, I live here as a fish in a vessel of water, only enough to keep me
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| alive, but in Heaven, I shall swim in the ocean.
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| Here, I have a little air in me to keep me breathing, but there,
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| I shall have sweet and fresh gales.
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| Here, I have a beam of sun to lighten my darkness, a warm ray to keep me from
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| freezing, but yonder, I shall live in light and warmth forever.
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| My natural desires are corrupt and misguided, and it is Thy mercy to destroy
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| them.
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| My spiritual longings are of Thy planting, and Thou wilt water and increase
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| them.
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| Quicken my hunger and thirst after the realm of love.
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| Here, I can have the world, but there, I shall have Thee in Christ.
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| Here is a life of longing and prayer; |
| there is assurance without suspicion,
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| asking without refusal.
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| Here are close comforts, more burden than benefit; |
| there is joy without sorrow,
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| comfort without suffering, love without inconstancy, and rest without
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| weariness.
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| Give me the…
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| Heaven is all love, where the eye affects the heart, and the continual viewing
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| of Thy beauty keeps the soul in continual transports of delight.
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| Give me the…
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| Heaven is all peace…
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| Give me the…
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| Heaven is all joy…
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| the end of believing, fasting, praying…
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| and watching and leaving to it soon. |