A Letter for a Christian Family.
Directed to all true Christians to read.
[Which] being sealed up in heart and mind,
[Nothin]g but truth in it you'l find,
[Both O]ld and Young, both Rich and Poor,
[Bear it] in mind, keep it in store:
[And th]ink upon the time to come,
For time doth pass, the Glass doth run,
Therefore whilst thou hast time and space,
Call to the Lord above for Grace.
Then he will surely thee defend,
And thou shalt make a happy end.
To the Tune of, The Godly Mans Instruction.
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[Bot]h young and old, both rich and poor give ear,
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[Un]to thise verses which I shall declare,
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[And gi]ve good heed to that which here is pen'd,
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[And str]ive in time your wicked lives to mend.
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[But ye]t there's many that doth not regard,
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[Till fo]r their sins they have a just reward:
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[But stil]l goes on, their wicked courses run,
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[Until] both Soul and Body be undone.
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[Theref]ore good people let us have a care,
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[And u]nto Christ with speed let us repair;
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[Leave] off your sins which now do so abound,
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[For 'tw]as for sin that once the world was drown'd.
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[How m]any sins within this Land we see?
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[In high] and low of every degree;
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[Both ri]ch and poor they now do live at strife
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[And gr]eat debate is betwixt man and wife.
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[Brothe]r and Sister they do disagree,
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[As by exp]erience now we daily see:
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And children that have hardly use of Tongue,
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Will Swear and Curse as they do pass along.
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And some will Curse their Parents to their face,
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Methinks to them it is a foul disgrace,
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But 'tis forbidden in the Laws of God,
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Therefore let's serve him all with one accord.
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The sin of pride we see doth so excell,
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In Men and Women now the truth to tell:
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And for that sin we read that Satan fell,
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From an high Angel to a Devil in hell.
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Also we read of Dives pomp and state,
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And of poor Lazarus that lay at his gate,
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In Abrahams bosome he was nourished,
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And with sweet comforts he was daily fed.
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Whilst Dives for one drop did call and cry,
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To cool his Tongue, he did in torments lye,
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But any comfort could he not receive,
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Because poor Lazarus he would not relieve.
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IN fashions strange and many a fond delight,
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We please our fancies now both Day & Night,
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And never think upon this time to come,
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Although our Glass hath but one hour to run.
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There's many now that to the Church do go,
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Their pomp and pride, and bravery to show,
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More than to hear the sacred word of God,
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But let all such beware his heavy Rod.
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Be not too covetous in heart and mind,
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Nor to that sin be not too much inclin'd:
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Remember Judas how he was too hold,
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For covetuousness his Lord and Master sold.
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Be not too prudent in this thy worldly wealth,
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Do not trust to it, for it is but pelf,
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'Twill fade away and leave thee in the dust,
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From thence thou cam'st, and thither return thou must
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Lord give us grace to understand aright,
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Thy holy laws and therein take delight;
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And comfort those the which are comfortless,
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And help the Widdow in her great distress.
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Likewise the Fatherless O Lord defend,
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And thy true grace unto all Christians send:
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And grant that we thy holy name may fear,
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And serve thee still with heart most pure and clear.
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How many Messengers the Lord hath sent,
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To give us warning that we should repent,
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But yet our hearts so stubborn are I say,
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That we God's holy word will not obey.
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Sermons on Sermons we do daily hear,
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By Ministers well learn'd as doth appear,
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To give us warning to repent our sin,
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Which we so long time now have lived in.
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All you that read these lines which hear are pen'd,
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Observe them well and strive your lives to mend,
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For time doth slide, and swiftly pass away,
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One hour or minute for no man will stay.
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Our time which in this world we have to spend,
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In prayers and tears unto the Lord let's send,
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For to defend us from all Satans power,
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That seeks our Souls and Bodies to devour.
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Now to conclude, the God of peace and love,
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Grant that our Souls may dwell in Heaven above:
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And grant our King & Queen a prosperous reign,
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The Gospel pure amongst us to maintain.
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