THE
Poor MANs Counsellor;
OR,
The Married MANs Guide:
If God hath blest thee with a careful Wife,
Take my Directions how to lead thy Life;
Tho Riches thou dost want, yet thou shalt find,
Far greater Wealth in a contented Mind:
Thy honest Labour shall thy Charge maintain,
Being truly got, not by unlawful Gain.
To the Tune of, The Poor Mans Comfort, etc
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COME Friend if thy Leisure Permit thee to stay,
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Ill teach thee some Precepts the same to obey,
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Now thou hast betaken thy self to a Wife,
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How thou mayst live happy all Days of thy Life,
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Then take my Directions, tho thou art but poor,
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Ill learn thee to keep the Wolf from the Door.
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Tis not all Mens [f]ortune great Riches to have,
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And they that have little, have more need to save,
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For Riches have Wings and away they will fly,
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And leave them forsaken that once were so high,
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A little is better with Peace and Content,
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Than Wealth in abundance in misery spent.
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The Wealth of the World doth too many bewitch,
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And they are to blame that make hast to be Rich,
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For Goods ill gotten like Snow-Balls do wast,
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And he that is Rich will be poor at the last;
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Therefore be content with a lowly Degree,
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And God will provide in due Time you shall see.
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If thou hast a Wife that is loving and kind,
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Great Comfort in her at all Times thou wilt find,
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Whatever betide thee she will bear a share,
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And help to advise thee in Woe or Welfare,
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Then strive not her Patience at all to provoke,
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But freely Submit to draw both in one Yoak.
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A Wife that is froward I do not commend,
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What thou dost take Pains for shell lavishly spend,
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And do what thou canst for to humour her still,
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Shell hold thee in Scorn if she want of her Will,
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Make much of a Wife that is loving and chaste,
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For she will be saving and fearful to waste.
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Each Morning when thou dost thy Labour begin,
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Have God in thy Mind twill keep thee from Sin,
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A Penny hard earnd, since it is thy Lot,
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Will do the more good than a Pound thats ill got;
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Then labour to thrive, by the Sweat of thy Brows,
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For thats the best Way all honest Men knows.
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If God gives a Blessing that Children you have,
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The more you must labour in Times for to save,
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And do not you murmer and count them a Charge,
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The better youll thrive, and your Stock will enlarge,
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Twill be of great Comfort thy Children to see,
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If that they obedient and dutiful be.
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Let no Man entice thee thy Money to waste,
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Be careful to spare and lay up what thou hast;
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Whoever should ask thee, he is not thy Friend,
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To go to the Ale-house thy Money to spend,
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Avoid such bad Courses as bring Men to want,
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And thou shalt have plenty when others have Scant.
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Lewd Houses and Gaming be sure that you shun,
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Theres many frequent them and so are undone:
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By such bad Companions a Man thats misled,
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May quickly be brought to a Morsel of Bread;
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A Cup of good Liquor at Home with thy Wife,
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Will chear up your Hearts, and prevent further Strife.
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Be courteous and kind to thy Neighbours about,
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And then theyll love thee thou need not to doubt,
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Avoid all Contention with Strife and Debate,
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For that would procure thee all honest Mens hate;
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Be civil to all Men as they are to thee,
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Then kindly respected thou surely shalt be.
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If Times do prove hard, and Money be scant,
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Then labour for little before that you want,
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And thankfully take whatsoever God sends,
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As Times do grow better it will make amends,
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A Dinner of Herbs with content serves as well
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As all the rich Dainties which far doth excell.
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When thou for thy Labour some Money has got,
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Be sure do not spend it in tossing the Pot,
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Make hast to thy Wife and Children small,
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And that will supply when they for Bread do call,
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Twould be a great Grief to thee whilst thou dost live,
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To hear thy Babies cry and have nothing to give.
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Whatever Affliction befal thee or thine,
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Yet do not thou murmer or seem to repine,
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For God that hath given the Means to subsist,
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Can take it away whensoever he list;
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Therefore be contented whatever betide,
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Submit with all Patience and God will provide.
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Take to remember what here I have told,
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And value it dearer than Silver or Gold;
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When thou art inclined to wander astray,
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Perhaps it might bring thee into the right Way,
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And by thy Example all others may see,
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Tis good to be careful and live honestly.
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