“He who receivesLight from above, from the Fountain of Light,No other doctrine needs, though granted true;But these are false, or little else but dreams,Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm.”

“But to guide nations in the way of TruthBy saving Doctrine, and from error leadTo know, and knowing worship God aright,Is yet more knightly, this attracts the Soul,Governs the inner man, the nobler part,That other o'er the body only reigns,And oft by force, which to a generous mindso reigning can be no sincere delight.”

“Though all winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple, who ever knew truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter.”

“Yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible.”

“When I consider how my light is spentEre half my days in this dark world and wide,And that one talent which is death to hideLodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bentTo serve therewith my Maker, and presentMy true account, lest he returning chide,"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"I fondly ask. But Patience, to preventThat murmur, soon replies: "God doth not needEither man's work or his own gifts: who bestBear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His stateIs kingly; thousands at his bidding speedAnd post o'er land and ocean without rest:They also serve who only stand and wait.”

“O sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beamsThat bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere.”

“From morn to noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, a summer's day; and with the setting sun dropped from the zenith like a falling star.”