A Watch for a Wise-mans observation.
The Emperor, King, Noble, and Begger all,
Must yeeld to Death, and come when doth call.
Where is Alexander? Where is Pluto?
Where is Croesus?
Mortuus est.
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I.
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ONe God there is, of Wisedome, Glory, Might,
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One Faith there is, to guide our soules aright:
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One Truth there is, that errours doth descry.
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One Baptisme, for to know all Christians by.
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II.
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Two Testaments there are, the Old and New,
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Wherein the Law, and Gospel thou maiest view:
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The one for Works, & Deeds doth precepts give,
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The other sayes, the Just by faith shal live.
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III.
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Three Persons in the Glorious Trinity,
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Make one true God, in perfect Unity,
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The Father, Sonne and Holy Ghost, these three;
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Forever equall and Eternall be.
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IV
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Foure holy, blessed, Sanctified men,
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For comfort of all Christians that did pen,
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Our Saviours Birth, Life, Death and passion,
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Whereon depends our Soules salvation.
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V
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Five Senses do in every man maintaine,
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A government of power to Rule and Reigne,
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Thy Hearing, Seeing, Tasting, Feeling, Smelling,
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Which all at Death, will leave thee, and their dwelling
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VI
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Six dayes thou hast allow'd to labour in,
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(So Mercifull and good thy God hath been)
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Of seven, to himselfe he takes but one.
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Oh rob him not of that, to leave him none.
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VII
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Seven liberall Arts, by a Divine Instinct,
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Unto Mans understanding soule, are linckt:
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Rhetorique, Grammer, Musicke, Geometry,
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Arithmeticke, Logicke, and Astronomy.
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VIII
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Eight Persons in the Arke, of righteous Noah,
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Were saved, when for Sinne God did destroy,
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The fowle defiled World, all creatures drown'd,
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Which in that Ship of safety were not found.
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IX
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Nine Muses like unto the Heavens Spheares,
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To Sacred tunes intice inclining Eares:
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To elevate sad melancholy mind,
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And cheare the heart that's dolefully inclin'd.
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X
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In ten Precepts God hath his Law declared,
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Man breakes them all, and so unlesse God spared,
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And in his Mercy did our Sinnes remit,
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Our just reward, were the Infernall Pit.
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XI.
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Eleven Disciples did with Jesus pray,
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When Judas did the Sonne of God betray,
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Through Covetousnesse, for greedy gain he fell,
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To be Perditions child condemn'd to Hell,
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XII
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Twelve Tribes there were amongst our fathers old,
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Twelve Articles, our Christian faith doth hold,
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Twelve Gates to new Jerusalem there be,
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Unto which City Christ bring thee and mee.
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O Earth, of Earth, observe this well,
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When Earth in Earth shall come to dwell,
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Where Earth with Earth shall close remaine,
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Till Earth from Earth do rise againe,
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And Earth before his Judge doe come,
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For to receive a finall doome.
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If Earth on Earth had lived so,
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That Earth no fruits of Faith can show:
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Then what reward shall Earth expect,
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That did on Earth his God neglect,
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Oh serve the Lord with all thy power,
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For here thou hast no certaine houre,
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Remember man when thou cam'st here,
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How naked poor thou didst appeare,
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And how againe (what ere thou have)
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Thou naked must returne to Grave.
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Thy wooden Chest, (a narrow place)
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A Coffin lid close up thy face.
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Thy soule (if sav'd) to heaven flyes,
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Thy body here a rotting lyes,
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Forsaken of thy friends and kinne,
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As thou on Earth hadst never been,
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When they have brought thee to the grave,
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And yeelded Earth, what Earth doth crave,
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They backe returne from whence they came,
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Till others do the very same,
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In following them, as they did thee,
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This course with all the world will be.
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And heres thy portion and thy lot,
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With men thou shalt be soon forgot,
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And so into oblivion passe,
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With such a man sometimes he was:
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But neither beauty, riches, strength,
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Could give his life a minutes length.
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Therefore, O man, thinke on thy state,
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Before thy life be out of date:
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Unto thy God for Mercy pray,
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That at thy last and dying day,
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The glorious Angels may thee bring,
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Where blessed Saints forever sing. Amen.
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