A very Godly SONG, intituled, the Earnest
Petition of the faithful Christian, being Clerk of Bodnam, made upon his Deathbed,
at the Instant of his Transumation. To a sweet solemn Tune.
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NOw my painful eyes lie rowling,
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And my passing-Bell is towling,
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Towling sweetly, I lye dying,
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And my life is from me flying.
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Grant me strength, O gracious God,
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For to endure thy heavy Rod,
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Then shall I rejoyce and sing,
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With Psalms unto our heavenly King.
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Simeon that blessed man,
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Believed Christ when he was come,
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And then he did desire to dye,
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To live with him Eternal[l]y.
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Christ wrote me a strong Salvation.
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By his bitter death and passion;
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He had washd and made me c[l]ean,
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That I should never sin again.
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Grievous pains doth call and cry,
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O Man prepare thy self to dye:
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All my Sins I have lamented,
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And to dye I am contented.
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Silly Soul the Lord receive thee,
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Death is come, and life must leave thee
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Death wi[l]l tarry no mans leasure,
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Then farewel all earthly pleasure.
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In this world I nothing crave,
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But to bring me to my Grave;
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In my Grave while I lye sleeping,
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Angels have my soul in keeping.
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When the bells are for me ringing,
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Lord receive my soul with singing:
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Then shall I be free from pain,
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To live and never dye again.
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While the worms corrupting breed on,
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Wait my noisome Corps to feed on,
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My fervent soul this prison loathing,
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Craves a Robe of Angels cloathing.
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Farewel world and worldly Glory,
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Farewel all things transitory,
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Sion Hill my Soul ascendeth,
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And Gods Royal throne attendeth.
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Farewel Wife & Children small,
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For I must go when Christ doth call:
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And for my death be ye con[t]ent
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When I am gone do not lament.
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Now the Bell doth cease to toul,
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Sweet Jesus Christ receive my soul.
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O God which did the world create,
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Hear a poor sinner at the Gate,
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Thou that from death didst set me free
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Remit my sins and shew mercy.
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O thou that causd thy blessed Son,
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Into this Universe to come:
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Thy Gospel true for to fulfill,
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And to subdue Sin, Death, and Hell.
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Grant for his sake that dyd on tree,
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On the blest Mount of Calvary:
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That I being grieved for my sin,
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Might by repentance Heaven win
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The Gospel saith, who so believe,
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To them wilt thou a blessing give,
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Amongst which number grant me faith
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That to believe the Gospel saith.
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Which to believe grant that I may,
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Though here I dye, yet live for aye,
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Then saviour sweet remit my sin
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And grant me faith that life to win.
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And since thy death a price most great,
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Hath bought us here I do intreat
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To give me Grace thy name to praise,
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Both now and evermore always.
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For by thy death my soul is free
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From Hell, which still by thy decree
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To sinners, all for sin is due,
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Until thy Son our Saviour true.
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Did vanquish by almighty power,
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Death, Hell, and all that could devour
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My sins, O Lord, I do confess,
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Like sands in Seas are numberless.
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Yet though my sins like scarlet show,
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Their whiteness may exceed the snow,
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If thou thy mercy do extend,
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That I my sinful life may mend.
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With mercy thy blest word doth say,
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At any time obtain I may,
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If power and grace in me remain,
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From carnal sin for to restrain.
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Then give me grace, Lord to abstain
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From sin, that I may still remain
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With thee in heaven where angels sing
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Most joyfully to thee our King.
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God grant, O Christ, that when I dye,
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My soul with thee immediately,
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May have abode among the blest,
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And live for ever in true rest.
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