The Dying Mans good
Counsel to his Children and Friends.
Being a fit pattern for Old and Young, Rich and Poor, Bond and Free to take example by
the same, that they may live an honest sober Godly life in this world; that they may
enjoy life everlasting in the World to come.
To the Tune of in Summer time.
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GOod people all listen a while
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& give ear unto my song,
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Let not vain thoughts your hearts beguile
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nor be led by no evil tongue.
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All you that stands about my bed
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and here is come my death to view,
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Think on my words when I am dead
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and what I speak you'l find them true.
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First to my Children I will speak
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which in this world I now must leave,
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See that a godly course you take
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And look no man you do deceive,
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Help for to Right the fatherless
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the hungry see you cloath and feed,
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Wrong not a widdow in distress
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thou know'st not but thou maist come to need.
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What thou dost give, give with a good will
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rejoyce not at thy brothers fall,
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To make neighbours friends pray use your skill
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a day will come will pay thee all.
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Hate not a man tho he be poor
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let not pride thy heart overthrow
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Relieve those that ask at thy door
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thou knowest not what thou may come to.
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FOr Gold and silver is but dross
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and Goods has wings to fly away,
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But count that same a greater loss
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that brings thy soul unto decay.
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Hate drunkenness that deadly sin
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which will bring thee to poverty,
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A Harlots door dont enter in
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be sure no good will come thereby.
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Likewise my daughters which I have
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and to other maidens I will speak,
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That when I am laid within my Grave
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my counsel they much on may make.
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O mind your Bibles more then pride
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for in this world thou have not long to stay
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And God above will be your guide
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if you his holy word obey.
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Dress you your selves in civil sort
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be not pufft up with every wind.
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Do not regard the worlds report
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and thou Reward in Heaven shalt find.
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For all these earthly joyes are vanity
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therefore mark well what I shall say,
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Tho thou dost climb never so high
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yet still thou art but dust and clay.
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Man's life you see is like a span
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or like the flowers i'th field do grow,
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Here to day, to morrow is gone
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all this for certain truth we know.
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Then who woud be proud of what they have
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when death doth come thou must away,
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The Rich the poor must go to'th Grave
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for time and Tide for none will stay.
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Rejoyce O young man in thy youth
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yet count thy mirth but vanity,
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And know this for certain truth
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that one day thou and all must dye.
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Do not we see before our eyes
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how sudden some are snatcht away,
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Death at our doors he knocks and cryes
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prepare you for your dying day.
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Yet some on their means do set such love
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their hearts so hardened are withall,
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They think not on that God above
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though he himself to them doth call.
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But let me perswade all such as those
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with speed a new life to begin,
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For when that death thine eyes do close
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thoul't find what danger thou art in.
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Therefore whilst thou hast time and space
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make use of it while you are here,
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Then welcome death come when thou wilt
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of it thou needs not stand in fear.
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For after death comes you can't repent
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and for every idle word you say,
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And how thy precious time thou'st spent
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thou must give account at the latter day.
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What pleasure man here canst thou find
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altho thou sports thy time away,
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Thy glass is running prethee mind
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thy soul doth both waste and decay.
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Thus Friends and Neighbours you da hear
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what a righteous man he doth come too,
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T[h]en to serve the Lord let it be your care
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and so I bid you all adieu.
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And then departed this old man
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in love in happiness and peace,
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No doubt his soul to heaven is gone
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where Angels sing and never cease
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All you that now have heard these Lines
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& mark these words which here is pen'd,
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I pray you bear them in your mind
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that you may make a Godly End.
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