A very godly Song, intituled, the Earnest
Petition of the Faithful Christian, being Clerk of Bodnam, made upon his Deathbed, at
the Instant of his Transmutation. To a sweet solemn Tune.
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NOw my painful eyes lie rowling,
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And my Passing-Bell is towling,
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Towling sweetly, I lye dying,
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And my life is from me flying.
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Grant me strength O gracious God,
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For to endure thy heavy Rod,
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Then shall I rejoyce and sing,
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With Psalms unto our heavenly King
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Simeon that blessed man,
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Believed Christ when he was come,
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And then he did desire to dye,
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To live with him eternally.
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Christ wrote me a strong Salvation,
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By his bitter death and passion:
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He had wash't and made me clearn,
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That I should never sin again.
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Grievous pains doth call and cry,
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O Man prepare thy self to dye:
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All my Sins I have lamented,
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And to dye I am contented.
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Silly Soul the, Lord receive thee,
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Death is come and life must leave thee
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Death will tarry no mans leasure,
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Then farewel all earthly pleasure.
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In this world I nothing crave,
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But to bring me to the Grave:
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In my Grave while I lye sleeping,
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Angels have my soul in keeping.
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When the Bells are for me ringing,
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Lord receive my soul with singing:
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Then shall I be free from pain,
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To live and never dye again.
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While the worms corrupting breed on,
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Wait my noisom corps to feed on,
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My fervent soul this prison loathing,
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Craves a Robe of Angels cloathing.
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Farewel world and worldly Glory,
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Farewel all things transitory,
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Sion Hill my Soul ascendeth,
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And Gods Royal Throne attendeth.
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Farewel Wife and Children small;
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For I must go when Christ doth call:
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And for my death be ye content,
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When I am gone do not lament.
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Now the Bell doth cease to toul.
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Sweet Jesus Christ receive my Soul.
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O God which did the world create
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Hear a poor sinner at thy Gate,
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Thou that from death didst set me free
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Remit my sins and shew mercy.
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O thou that caus'd thy blessed Son,
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Into this Universe to come:
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Thy Gospel true for to fulfill,
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And to subdue Sin, Death, and Hell.
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Grant for his sake that dy'd on tree,
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On the blest Mount of Calvary:
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That I being grieved for my sin,
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Might by repentance heaven Win.
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The Gospel saith, who so believe,
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To them wilt thou a blessing give,
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Amogst which number grant me faith
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That to believe the gospel saith.
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Which to believe grant that I may,
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Though here I dye, yet live for aye,
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Then Saviour sweet remit my sin,
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And grant me faith that life to win.
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And since thy death a price most great,
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Hath bought us here, I do intreat
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To give me grace thy name to praise,
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Both now and evermore always.
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For by thy death my soul is free,
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From Hell, which still by thy decree
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To Sinners all for Sin is due,
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Until thy Son our Saviour true,
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Did vanquish by Almighty power,
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Death, Hell, and all that could devour
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My sins, O Lord, I do confess,
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Like sands in Seas are numberless.
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Yet though my sins are scarlet show,
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Their whiteness may exceed the Snow
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If thou thy mercy do extend,
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That I my sinful life may mend.
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With mercy thy blest word doth say,
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At any time obtain I may,
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If power and grace in me remain,
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From carnal Sin for to refrain.
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Then give me grace, Lord to abstain
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From sin, that I may still remain
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With thee in Heaven were Angels sing
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Most joyfully to thee our King.
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God grant, O Christ, that when I dye
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My soul with thee immediately,
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May have abode amongst the blest,
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And live for ever in true rest.
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