A NEW ADVICE
TO
WHORE----MASTERS etc.
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O! Scotland now repent,
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consider that thou'rt drown'd;
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Thy Talent is but lent,
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it is not to thee bound:
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Go put it in the usary,
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and do the same improve,
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Or else by all appearance,
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thy Candle will remove,
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Into the time of Famine,
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this truth I must record,
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Then many pay'd their Talent
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even back unto their Lord,
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Of whom they had received it,
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with usery in store,
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A new Talent is lent us,
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but not for evermore.
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Go therefore and improve the same,
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and keep it no more hid;
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For if it be remov'd I fear
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we'll ne'er receive a Third.
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Our sins are grown so gross
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even in this our Land,
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Drinking Cursing and Swearing,
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now takes the upper hand.
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In old time Scotland flouri'shd,
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the Beauty of the Earth,
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The Gospel truely nourish'd,
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and truely did bring forth
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Fruit meet unto Repentance,
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for which I hear do call,
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Before your Candle be put out,
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let this forewarn you all.
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Ye know that Vengance reached
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even such as did gainstand,
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The Gospel that is preached
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even now into our Land:
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And also some for Swearing,
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which sin do cry aloud,
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For vengance on us which doth hang
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over us as a Cloud:
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O then obey the Gospel,
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and do these sins forbear
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Even your horrid Cursing,
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and bloody Oaths ye swear:
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Also the sin of Whoring,
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O! let your Sins down fall
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And then with glorious glimpses,
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mercy'l be given for All.
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If this be not lamented
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and mourned for a right,
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Our Sun it will go down and well
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be left into the Night,
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And if we do Repent the same,
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our light shall be more clear,
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Our Day-spring but arising,
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and Grace will more appear.
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Now if these be lamented,
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all our Difficulties
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Shall soon be all removed,
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into our way that lies:
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Our War it should go on with forc[e]
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or enemies should fall,
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If we had many Joshuas,
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remember Jericho's wall,
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Now all good natur'd People,
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that doth read my line,
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I pray ye censure tenderly,
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no evil I design,
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But wisheth that the Gospel,
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may spread and flourish bright
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That Men may say in Scotland
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now Springs the Morning light.
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O therefore turn unto the Lord,
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before your Glass be spent,
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Lest you cry out when it is run,
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fain wou'd we now repent:
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But if do return in time,
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and do for Mercy crave,
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All good things He will give to you
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and then your Souls receive.
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