THE
Dying Christians friendly Advice
To Sinners all, and every Christian Friend,
This my advice I freely recommend.
And wish them all while they have time and breath
To make P[r]ovision for to meet with Death.
To the Tune of, Aim not too high. This may be Printed, R.L.S.
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YOu Mortal men who vainly spend your youth,
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In Sinful pleasure, slighting of the truth,
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Repent with speed, the judgement day draws nigh,
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You answer must for all assuredly.
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Before the Great Trybunal Bar you must
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Give your accounts, before a Judge most just,
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Who sees what you in secret often do,
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Conscience shall witness bear against you too.
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How sad and dreadful for you will it be,
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When you Launch forth into eternity;
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Except the Lord his anger doth abate,
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And Jesus Christ doth prove your advocate.
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Mind well my words you sinful crea[t]ures all,
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And to JEHOVAH do for mercy call:
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While you have breath of God for mercy crave,
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For there is no repentance in the grave.
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And yet how boldly men run on in Sin,
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That they so many years have lived in,
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Like perfect Heathens many people live,
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As if they never were account to give.
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Whoredom, and drunkenness is all a mode,
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Although to Hell it is the ready Road:
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And yet securely some do walk therein,
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As if it were a precept, and no Sin.
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But 'twill be heavy at the latter day,
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If then they do in vain for pardon pray;
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If to befriend you Christ should then deny,
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Your Souls are lost to all eternity.
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Then call upon Christs ever blessed name,
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To save you from that everlasting flame;
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Where Fiends and Devils do for ever fry?
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And must endure their endless misery.
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Then labour to obtain Eternal life,
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Twixt God and your poor Souls ne'r make a s[trife]
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Thrice happy without doubt or fear is he,
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Who proves in his dear favour for to be.
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But man is prone to sin, and is so frail,
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That over him temptations do prevail:
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Which to the Soul gives such a deadly wound,
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That Soul and body stiil in Sin are drown'd.
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Damming and sinking are so common grown,
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The like before this age was never known,
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Inhumane murthers frequently we see;
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Some men of late like Butchers seem to be.
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Yet drowzy Sinners never will awake,
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Nor yet by others will a warning take;
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For time doth sl[i]de and swiftly pass away,
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One hour or minute for no man will stay.
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O pitty take on your immortal Soul,
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Least when it is too late you do condole,
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Though Christ a while in mercy doth forbear,
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Consider well you dreadful Sinners are.
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And on his name if you sincerely call,
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Begging his help to bring you out of thrall;
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There is no doubt but he your friend will be,
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And help you out of all your misery.
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On Jesus Christ let all your hopes depend,
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And he will prove your Saviour in the end,
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From pains and sorrows he will set you free,
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With Saints and Angels you shall happy be.
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This momentary life is little worth,
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That nothing else but misery brings forth:
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O who would praise so vain a thing as this,
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To be deprived of eternal Bliss.
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With contrite hearts upon our Saviour call,
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For doubtless he hath Love in store for all;
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And certainly for ever will be kind,
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To those that be true penitents doth find.
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All you that to my Song now lend an ear,
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Pray bear in mind the words that you do hear;
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Your Sins repent, to God for mercy pray,
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And be prepar'd for the Tribunal Day[.]
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