Bee Patient in Trouble:
OR,
The Patient mans Counsell, wherein is showne the great goodnes
of God towards them that beare the Crosses and Afflictions of this World pati-
ently: As also a friendly instruction, whereby to advise us to forsake our
wonted sinnes, and turne unto the Lord by speedy repentance, very meete
and necessary for Worldlings to marke, reade, heare, and make
use of.
To the tune of, Bodkins Galliard.
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COme, come, you greedy worldlings leave your toyle,
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Lend me your approbation to my song:
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For I like you was troubled for a while,
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Bout worldly matters which have done me wrong:
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Now to revoke that life I am inclind,
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Ile give God thankes and take what I doe finde.
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Though on this earth I live as one so poore,
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That few or none regards my company:
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Yet hath the Lord a blessing still in store
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For them that wait his leasure patiently:
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Then let no men despaire though meanes be small,
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But in affliction give God thankes for all.
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When I remember Job that was so just,
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How he despised was of all his kin,
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And how from Post to Piller he was tost,
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And no man weighed his sorrowes not a pin:
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Then unto memory I likewise call,
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That he in troubles gave God thankes for all.
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Although of riches once he had great store,
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And was the chiefest man in all the East,
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Yet was the Lords deare servant brought so poore,
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And of his goods and Cattell dispossest:
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Then patient Job unto the Earth did fall,
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And heartily did give God thankes for all.
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Not onely all the wealth which he enjoyd
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Was quite consumd and tane from him away,
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His Sons and Daughters likewise were destroyd,
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By a tempestuous weather fell that day,
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The house in peices on their heads did fall,
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And still poore Job did give God thanks for all.
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And farther to increase his misery,
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His Wife to him most wrathfully did say,
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Husband quoth she curse God and yeeld to die,
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O no said Job, I know a better way,
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Ile not offend my Heavenly makers will,
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Ile prayse his name and be contented still.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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THus being comfortlesse upon the Earth,
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His day of birth began to call to mind,
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He also thought upon his hours of death,
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And with great griefe those speeches he assignd,
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Naked Came I out of my Mothers Wombe,
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Naked shall I returne unto my Tombe.
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Thus Job continued still so pure and holy,
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As holy writers doth of him approve,
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Whom all the World could not entice to folly,
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For God lovd Job, and Job his God did love.
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And afterward the Lord his fortunes blest,
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With farre more wealth than he before possest.
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This sweet example may for great and small
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Be a direction, how that we may guide
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Our lives, when crosses doth to us befall,
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That from these Precepts we may never slide:
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Lord clothe us with that everlasting Robe,
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True Faith and Patience like thy Servant Job.
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And grant that ever we may put our trust
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In thee alone, which art our strength and stay,
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Seeing, that earthly treasure is but dust,
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Which soone will perish and consume away:
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Let us desire our sinnes may be forgiven,
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And every day prepare ourselves for Heaven.
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This World is full of vaine deluding snares,
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The Divell also layes many cunning baites
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For to intrap our soules at unawares,
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He useth many policies and sleights:
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Just cause have we to flie to Christ with speed,
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And crave his ayd in this our time of neede.
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Moreover let us now with speede forsake,
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Our wonted sinnes wherein we take delight,
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And of our lives and wayes a conscience make,
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And learne to serve the Lord our God aright.
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O let us not our time too long delay,
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But put from us all wickednesse away.
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Let the Blasphemer now foregoe his othes,
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And bid the Drunkard leave his swilling mates,
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For God himselfe the sinne of swearing lothes,
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And all good men a Drunkards presence hates:
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Let foule Extortion now be put to flight,
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And Malice quite be banisht out of sight.
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Let Envie, Pride and vile Adultery,
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And Murther, that fierce Monster part from hence,
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Both Covetousnesse, and Prodigality,
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No more be seene amongst our Eminence:
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So will the Lord our Goods and Cattell blesse,
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Our Land and all that ever we possesse.
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Our Noble King the Father of our peace,
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The Lord preserve and keepe continually,
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And send the Queene and all their blest increase,
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The dew of thy sweet blessing from on high:
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So shall all English men rejoyce and sing,
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Prayses be given to Christ our Heavenly King.
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