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Roger Williams: You Make a Path

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You make a path, provide a guide

And feed a wilderness;

Your glorious name, while breath remains,

O that I may confess.

Lost many a time, I had no guide,

No house but a hollow tree.

In stormy winter night no fire,

No food, no company.

In You I found a house, a bed,

A table, company;

No cup so bitter but’s made sweet,

Where You shall sweetening be.

Roger Williams (1603-1683) was a co-founder of the colony of Rhode Island. After coming to the United States in 1630, Williams advocated separation of church and state, fair treatment of Native Americans, and liberty of conscience.