Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

Psalme LXXXIV

CVII. John Hopkins

HOW pleasant is thy dwelling-place,

O Lord of hostes, to me!

The tabernacles of thy grace,

How pleasant, Lord, they be!

My soule doth long full sore to goe

Into thy courtes abroad;

My heart doth lust, my flesh also,

In thee the liuing Lord.

The sparrowes find a roome to rest,

And saue themselues from wrong;

And eke the swallow hath a nest

Wherein to keepe her young.

These birdes full nigh thine altar may

Haue place to sit and sing:

O Lord of hosts, thou art, I say,

My God and eke my King.

O they be blessed that may dwell

Within thy house alwaies;

For they all times thy facts do tell,

And euer giue thee praise.

Yea, happy sure likewise are they

Whose stay and strength thou art;

Which to thy house do minde the way,

And seeke it in their heart.

As they goe through the vale of teares,

They dig vp fountaines still;

That as a spring it all appeares,

And thou their pits doest fill.

From strength to strength they walke full fast,

No faintnes there shall be;

And so the God of gods at last

In Sion they do see.

O Lord of hostes, to me giue heede,

And heare when I doe pray;

And let it through thine eares proceede,

O Jacob’s God, I say.

O Lord our shield, of thy good grace

Regard, and so draw neare;

Regard, I say, behold the face

Of thine annoynted deare.

For why? within thy courts one day

Is better to abide,

Then other where to keepe or stay

A thousand daies beside.

Much rather would I keepe a doore

Within the house of God,

Then in the tents of wickednesse

To settle mine abode.

For God the Lord, light and defence,

Will grace and worship giue;

And no good thing shall he withold

From them that purely liue.

O Lord of hostes, that man is blest,

And happy sure is he,

That is perswaded in his brest

To trust all times in thee.