An excellent Song wherein you shall finde
Great consolation for a troubled minde.
To the tune of Fortune my Foe.
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AYme not too hie in things above thy reach,
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Be not too foolish in thine owne conceit,
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As thou hast wit and worldly wealth at will,
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So give him thankes that shall encrease it still.
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Beware of pride the mother of mishap,
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Whose sugred snares will seeke thee to entrap,
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Be meeke in heart, and lowly minded still,
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So shalt thou Gods Commandements fulfill.
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Cast all thy care upon the Lord, and he
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In thy distresse will send to succour thee,
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Cease not therefore to serve him every day,
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Who with his blood thy ransome once did pay.
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Drive from thy heart ill thoughts that may offend,
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Desire of God his holy spirit to send,
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Which will direct thy life in such a sort,
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As thou thereby shalt find joy and comfort,
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Except each day and houre when Christ shall come
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With power to judge the world both all & some:
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Be ready then, and with the Bridegroome Christ,
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Receive reward in heaven among the highest.
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Feare to offend his heavenly Majestie,
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Faith doth confirme true love and loyaltie:
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Without which faith, as holie Scriptures say,
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No man to heaven can find the perfect way.
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Great is the Lord and mercifull doubtlesse,
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To those that with true zeale their faults confesse,
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But unto those in mischiefe dayly runnes,
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He lets alone to taste what after comes.
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Hope in the Lord, on him repose thy trust,
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Serve him with feare, whose judgements are most just
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Desire of him thy life so to direct,
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That to thy soule he may have good respect.
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Injure no man, but love thine enemie,
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Though to thy hurt, yet take it patiently,
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And thinke the Lord, although he suffer long,
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When time shal serve, will soon revenge thy wrong
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Keepe thou no ranckor hidden in thy heart,
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Remember well the word Christ did impart,
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That is, forgive offences over-past,
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As thou thy selfe wilt be forgiven at last.
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Lay not thy treasure up in hoarding sort,
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But therewithall the poore feed and comfort,
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If thou cold water give in Christ his name,
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Thrice double told he will reward the same.
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Misorder not thy selfe in any wise,
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In meat and drinke let reason still suffice:
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Moderate thy mind, and keepe thy selfe content,
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So shalt thou please the Lord Omnipotent,
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The second part to the same Tune.
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NO man can say that he is voyd of sin,
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For if he doe hes much deceivd therein:
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The Lord doth say, the just seven times aday
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Committeth sin, and runneth oft astray.
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Obey his will, who to redeeme thy losse
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Did shed his blood for us upon the Crosse,
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Such was the love that Christ did shew to man,
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Why should we be ungratefull to him than?
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Pittie the poore with such as God hath sent,
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And be not proud with that which he hath lent,
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Remember well what Christ hath said to thee,
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Doe this as though thou didst it unto me.
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Quench fond desires and pleasures of the flesh,
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Flie gluttonie, the Mother of excesse,
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For whoordome is the very sinke of sin,
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In which the wicked daily wallow in.
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Root from thy heart malicious thoughts be sure,
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Which are a meanes Gods judgements to procure
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For be assurd when envie beareth sway,
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The feare of God departeth soone away.
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Subdue thy selfe, let wisedome be thy guide,
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Suppresse ill thoughts, beware of hatefull pride,
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Despise the world, a vaile of vanities,
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Lest hedlong thou runst on in miseries.
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Turne unto me, our Saviour Christ doth say,
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And I will heare thy prayers every day,
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If any thing thou aske in Christ his name,
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Be well assurd thou shalt obtaine the same.
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Vaine exercise abolish from thy sight,
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Desire of God his faith and holy Spirit,
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Who will direct thee in the perfect way,
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That leads to life, as holy Scriptures say.
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When Satan seekes to tempt thee any way,
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Call upon God thy onely strength and stay,
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And he assurd from out his holy hill
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He will preserve thy life from danger still.
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Experience of his love that lends thee life,
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Must make thee seeke to live devoyd of strife,
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Let his love be thy rule, who so lovd thee,
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That death he underwent to set thee free.
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Yong men and maids, old men and babes repent,
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Lest for your sins you at the last be shent:
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Be wise, take heed, doe not the time delay,
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For Christ must be our Judge at the last day.
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Zeale like to fire our good works let make bright,
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That others thereof may behold the light:
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Light up your Lamps, and with the Virgins five
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Have oyle in stoore to keepe your Lamps alive.
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