Of holy writ, and lend unto the Lord—
And, if not all th' importunate demand,
The fear of want restrains my ready hand;
—Behold what sums I to the poor resign,
Sums placed in Heaven's own book, as well as mine!
Rest, then, my spirit!—fastings, prayers, and alms,
Will soon suppress these idly-raised alarms,
And, weigh'd against our frailties, set in view
A noble balance in our favour due.
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