A Lesson for all true Christians.
Which being well observed by old and young,
And practised with hand, and heart, and tongue:
Great comfort in it at the last you'l find,
Then mark it well, and bear it in y[o]ur mind.
Tune of, The Letter for a Christian Family. By J.C.
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ALl you whose minds be high & heavenly bent,
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Observe Gods laws, and strive for to repent;
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Bear thou in mind these lines I shall unfold,
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And prize them better far then pearl or gold.
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BEar thou in mind that Christ dy'd for thy sin
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Upon the Cross, thy precious soul to win;
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Be frequent still in reading of his word,
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Which cuts down sin as with a 2 edg'd sword.
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COnsider well the bitter pains & death,
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Our Saviour Christ hath suffered on the earth;
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Unto the Cross they nail'd his hands and feet,
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So for our sins he shed his blood most sweet.
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DEfer no time, but pray continually,
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Thy sins against the still for Vengeance cry:
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Pray to the Lord thy sins may be forgiven,
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& that thy soul may live with Christ in heaven.
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ETernal God if it be thy blessed will,
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Comfort all those that now are sick or ill;
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By Land or Sea relieve them of their pain,
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Restore them to their former health again.
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FOrbear to swear you children that are young,
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you parents pray correct them for their wrong
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And bring them up in fear to serve the Lord,
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For fear he scourge them with his heavy Rod.
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GReat oaths in vain too many people swear,
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The Lord in pieces willfully they tear:
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Strange imprecations they too common use,
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with such delights they do themselves abuse.
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HOw many false reports abroad do flie,
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People likewise are given much to lie:
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Likewise dissemble so with one another,
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We cannot tell how for to trust our Brother.
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IN many places people sudden dye,
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Others again sore sick in bed do lye;
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Lord give them grace in time for to repent,
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And for their grievous sins for to lament.
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KEep thou in mind the Judgement day will come,
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When thou shalt answer for what thou hast done
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Whilst thou remainest here on the earth
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Therefore prepare thee for the hour of death.
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LEt not malicious thoughts possess thy breast,
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Nor wicked actions in thy conscience rest;
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In any case do not thy Neighbour wrong,
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Neither by thought, word, deed, nor yet by tongue.
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MAny there be that follow drunkenness,
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& make themselves far worse then any beast,
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& many when that they should go to Church
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Do in an Ale-house or a Tavern lurch.
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NOr do they heed, but spend their means in vain,
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which shou'd their wives & children maintain
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Until they have consum'd their whole estate,
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And ne'r repent before it be too late.
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OThers there be likewise doth rob and kill,
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And many a man and womans blood do spill;
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For money to maintain their grievous sin,
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And think not on the errors they run in.
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PItty it is they have no better care,
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But bring their souls and bodies in a snare;
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Their bodies here to dye in woful shame,
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Their souls to suffer in eternal flame.
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QUere thou after Gods word which is so pure
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Also the Gospel which will still indure;
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Seek thou the place whereas thy Soul may rest
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Amongst the Angels whom the Lord hath blest.
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REgard not thou the sin of covetousness,
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Seek for to right the widdow and fatherless,
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Help to relieve those that in prison lye,
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Also remember man that thou must dye.
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SEt not thy mind upon Adultery,
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But from the beauty of lewd women flye,
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We find in Scripture that tis forbid,
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Then mind it well when as you do it read.
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TAke heed that you do not false measures u[se]
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With such deceit do not thy self abuse;
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Too many use it now, the more's the pit[y]
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In every place, in Country, Town and [City]
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UNdone are many by this false deceit,
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Let me advise such people, and intreat
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To leave it off & mark what I shall say,
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'Twill rise against them at the Judgeme[nt day]
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WHen thou before thy maker shalt appear,
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To give account, and eke thy self to cle[ar]
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If well thou'st done, then happy shalt t[hou be]
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And live with Christ in joy eternally.
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XAmple take I pray both old and young,
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By those few lines that's penned in this s[ong]
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Bear it in mind I pray every one,
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And think on it when I am dead and gone.
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YOung-men & maidens love your parents kind
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Honour them still, and seek the Lord to find
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O mind your bibles more then all your pride
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& then be sure the Lord will be your guide.
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ZEalous and faithful to each other prove,
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Live not in hatred, but in perfect love;
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Peace is a vertue passeth gold so pure,
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Lord grant it may amongst us still endure.
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& Now at last for to conclude and end,
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These lines to all true Christians I do send;
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To read them o're, and of them take a view,
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What here's pen'd you'l find for to be true.
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FINIS.
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