A GODLY
BALLAD,
INTITULED,
I will go seek my Saviour; and let the World be.
Tune of, Well all pluck the Heather, etc.
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THose Poets vain who think no Shame
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To make those Jigs of Love;
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Gods holy Word they do prophane,
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Careless of him above:
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My Mind from Vice I will remove,
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And in Humility,
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I will go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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To seek the Lord who dyd for me,
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A Voyage I will take:
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The Devil, the Flesh, and Vanity,
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Ill utterly forsake:
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The Cross of Christ I will up take,
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Until the Day I die;
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I will go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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Wherefore should I now depart,
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Not telling you the Case;
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The odious Sins strike up my Heart,
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I find in every Place:
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I see most Men are void of Grace,
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As daily you may see;
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I will go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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This World is full of Wickedness,
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Of Fraud, Deceit, and Guile;
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With Lying, Swearing, Drunkenness,
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Whoredoms, and Thefts most vile:
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We lead our Lives like Beasts most vile,
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What Shame it is to see:
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I will go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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My Soul I give unto the Lord,
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I know he craves no more;
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My filthy Flesh to the Church-yard,
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My Goods unto the Poor:
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Adieu my loving Friends therefore,
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In Faith, Lord strengthing me;
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I will go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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Now, I am ready for to go.
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And blessed be my Guide?
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The Grace of God, and Love also,
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These Two are on my Side:
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With Faith, Hope, and the Fear of God
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Which bear me Company;
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I will go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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Then Satan sly, he stood by me,
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And said, fond Fool beware;
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Stay thou at Home, and do not go,
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Thy Voyage it is too far:
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Take Pleasure whilst thou art here,
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Among your Company;
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Cleave to the World with all thy Might,
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And let the Lord be.
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Be merry still, take Comfort in,
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Those Things thou dost enjoy;
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And do not doubt that any Thing,
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Shall ever thee annoy:
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Repentance and all-saving Grace,
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Shall not bestowd on thee;
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Eer thou depart cleave to the World,
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And let the Lord be.
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SPIRIT speaketh.
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The Grace of God in me replyd,
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And said, Soul, lets away;
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Faith, Love, and Hope, upon us cry,
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And, say, Let us not stay:
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Repentance said Make no Delay,
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If thou that Joy will see;
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Turn to the Lord with Heart and Hand,
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And let the World be.
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Now to the Lord I will always,
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Make humble Supplication;
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Still hoping for a Drop of Grace,
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To bring me to Salvation:
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Deservd I have Damnation,
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Yet his Blood hath set me free;
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Therefore Ill go seek my Saviour,
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And let the World be.
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Now trusting I am for the Lord,
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Wheneer he doth me call;
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And hoping for a blest Reward,
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Hell Pity my poor Soul;
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God bless us here both one and all,
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And in Humility,
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God give us Grace to find our Lord,
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And let the World be.
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