A new ballad Intituled, Daniels siftyng in
these our dayes: aptly applyed to the true Preachers of the Gospell.
What God hath wylled us, to that good eare geve:
For Daniels are abroad: siftyng with their Seeve.
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GOOd Daniels sifting, in Gods church aboute,
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The footsteps out findyng: of those as be stoute.
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Against Gods word devine, which all aught to knowe
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In their owne mother toung: what duty they owe.
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To God alone justly, to serve hym with love,
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For all are not trusty: as his worde doth proove.
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Now yf God we obeyd, as he hath us taught,
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Then were our fayth stayed: in him that us bought.
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By Daniels, the Preachers: so this understand,
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Which doo preach Christ truly: in every land.
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Without Pope or popery, our soules for to save,
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By faith in Christ onely, of whom we it crave.
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And Gods booke this Seeve is, that they in hand take,
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And his word the Ashes, there out for to shake.
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In Temples and Churches, where people resort,
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To have for their soules health: the food of comfort.
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The people is the ground, on whom now doth fall,
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Those high devine Ashes: that makes the true tryall.
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Whose footesteppes shal apeere without frawde or guile,
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Of young and olde people: now marke well this stile.
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By these footesteppes I meane, the whole lyfe of man,
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And of all women kynde: these things now well scan.
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Who so in these Ashes, now treadeth awrye,
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Their steps shal be well knowne: to God & mans eye.
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As was in Bels Temple, a God without lyfe,
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Whereas footyng was found: of Man, Chyld, & Wyfe.
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Who eate up the vittells, from that false God Bell,
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And deceyved the Kyng: as the text doth tell.
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But Daniell by siftyng, all them to lyght brought,
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And also Bels Pristes: that wickedly wrought.
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Even so now our Sifters, that siftes at this day,
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With Gods word shall finde out: those in the brode way.
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When they heare the law red, unto them full playne,
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As God hath commanded: so to be certayne.
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The which law and Gospell, receive in good parte,
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And out of the broad way: betimes looke ye starte.
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The footesteps that Adam, and Eve first dyd trace,
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To the forboden tree: brought them in woe case.
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And all we by their fall in bondage be set,
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Day by day masked styl in Sathans great net.
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The firste blody footesteps, that Cayne dyd commit,
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To his brother Abell: remaynes in some yet.
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As in Ruffians and Rogges, that desperate be,
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Whose footesteps from much sinne cannot scape free.
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The pryde of great Nemrode, that in hym dyd rayne,
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Was knowne by his footesteps, and all his whole trayne.
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So lykewyse shall theirs doe, that buyldeth excesse,
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In any kynd of trade: abusing Richesse.
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Queene Jezabell that dyd, Gods true Prophets kyll,
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Her footeyng was found out: agaynst her owne wyll.
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The Dogs her bloud lapped in Jezraell,
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This sore grevous plague: was cast on Jezabell.
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So lykwyse the footsteps of Gods enemyes,
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Shall well be spyed: when as his wyll is.
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And have their reward due, for shedyng of bloud,
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Of Gods elect people: when the Lorde thinks it good.
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Remember how Pharao, though he was a King,
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His footesteps were found out: of persecutyng.
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He with his whole army, of men drowned were,
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In midst of the red sea: God dyd them not spare.
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Even so from tyme to tyme, you may read and see,
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How God plageth Tirants: for their iniquytye.
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He is the same God styll, sinners to correct,
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Except they repent now: he wyll them rejecte.
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Sodome and Gomorra, their footyng was found,
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What wayes they then walked: upon the Lords ground.
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They lived to them selves in the sinke of sinne,
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Tyll fyre and brimstone: therby they dyd winne.
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Let this be a warnyng, so now in lyke case,
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To whores and whoremongers: that yet lacketh grace.
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Whose close trippyng footesteps, wyll shortly appeere,
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By our Daniells siftyng: they can not scape cleere.
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The coveiteous footesteps, of Ahabs great spight,
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To have Nabaoths viniard: dyd come unto light.
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For the which the Lorde, with Ahab was wroth,
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And sent to hym Elyah: who tolde hym the troth.
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How the Lorde wold plague hym and all his houshold,
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For the death of Nobaoth: as Elyah hym tolde.
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Beware now by Ahab, to get worldly muck,
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For many one therby: hath had but yll lucke.
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Syr Rapax, syr Capax and syr Tenax also,
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And you master Userers: that now in wealth flow.
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Be not imps of Ahab, common wealth to annoye,
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Least you with your footesteps: the Lord doo destroy.
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The Scribes, the Pharasies, and Lawyers lykewyse,
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Their footyng was well knowne: of their enterprise.
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How they came unto Christ, to take hym in a trip,
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But he over came them: and gave them the slip.
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So Lawyers that wrest law, and matters prolong,
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Their footesteps wyll appeere of makyng right wrong.
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Woe be to such sayeth Christ, whose sentence is great,
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Wherfore repent in tyme: and for mercy intreat.
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Thus for to conclude now, let all men repent,
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And to leade a new lyfe: by Gods Testament.
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Ere death steale upon us, our footesteps to finde,
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Contray to Gods wyll: and to natures kinde.
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Wherefore siftyng Daniells, now ply your vocations,
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Declare Gods worde truely, unto all nations.
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God is your head Captayne, your shield and defence,
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Without feare or parcialytie, now doo your dilygence.
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By siftyng and sortyng, the good from the bad,
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Then God wyll be pleased: and his people glad.
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To heare what God wylleth, to that good eare geve,
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And to all such Preachers, as use wel the Seeve.
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