I chuse rather to sojourn on earth with thee, than to possess heaven without thee. Where thou art, there is heaven: and there is death and hell, where thou art not.
After thee I have a longing desire, and therefore I must needs sigh after thee, and cry and pray.
In fine, I cannot fully trust in any one to bring me seasonable help in my necessities, save only in thee, my God.
Thou art my hope, thou art my confidence, thou art my comforter, and most faithful above all.
2. All seek their own interest; thou aimest only at my salvation and profit, and turnest all things to my good.
And although thou expose me to various temptations and adversities, yet all this thou ordainest for my good, who art wont to prove thy beloved servants a thousand ways:
Under which proofs, thou oughtest no less to be loved and praised, than if thou wert to fill me with heavenly comforts.
3. In thee, therefore, O Lord God, I put all my hope and refuge; in thee I place all my tribulation and anguish; for I find all to be infirm and unstable whatever I behold out of thee.
For neither will a multitude of friends be of any service to me, nor can strong auxiliaries bring me any succours, nor wise counsellors give me a profitable answer, nor the books of the learned comfort me, nor any wealth deliver me, nor any secret and pleasant place secure me, if thou thyself do not assist; help, strengthen, comfort, instruct and defend me.