A friendly Caveat
To all true Christians,
Showing them the true way to Heaven.
To the Tune of, the Ladies fall.
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NOw that the day star doth appear
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to God devoutly let us call
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That in the deeds of daylight clear
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he'd keep us from misfortunes all.
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Let him temper our tatling tongue
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and bridle so our will
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Lest horror vile brake us among,
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and strife that sounds full ill.
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Let all the secrets of our hearts
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be clean from filthiness,
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Let slothful sluggishness depart
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from us that study do profess.
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Let mean dyet of drink and meat
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beat down the pride of flesh,
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Lest raging in that filthy heat
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it loose of youth the flowers fresh
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Take not in vain Gods holy name,
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but use it with reverence,
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For why the Lord all such do blame
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as here commit offence.
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Remember that thou holy keep
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the day of Rest as God doth will,
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Six days thou shalt apply thy work
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but rest the seventh day still.
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For in six days the Lord did frame
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the Heaven, the Earth, the Creatures,
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The seventh he ceast and blest the same
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as time for us on him to call
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All these precepts the Lord did write
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in the first table made of stone
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And left for us both night and day,
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his wayes to think upon.
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THe second table followeth then
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wherein the Lord instructeth us
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How to behave ourselves alwayes
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and the same is written thus.
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Unto thy Parents honor give
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as God commandeth thee.
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That thou long days and good may'st live
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in Heaven thy place shall be:
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Murder no man by word nor deed
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with Sword or other thing
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Do nought from whence hate may proceed,
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for murder out of heat doth spring,
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Avoid all foul adultery
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and all that their belong,
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All filthy thoughts and lusts of eye,
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all unchast talk of tongue.
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Take not by fraud nor yet by stealth
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the things that others possess,
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For so to take what is not thine
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it 'tis great wickedness
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Against no man false witness be
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but spake the truth alway,
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For God thy secret thoughts do see
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and will judge thee at the last day.
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Thou shalt not in thy heart desire
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to have thy Neighbors wife,
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His house nor Land do not require
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nor between them breed no strife.
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Be not desirous to reserve
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his ore, his horse, or beast
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That he is not willing to leave
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or what he doth possest.
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In vain take not the name of God,
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swear not by he nor she,
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The house with plagues is threatned
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where oaths much used be.
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Think on the poor in their distress,
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and God will send thee store,
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The widdow and the fatherless
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see you feed at your door.
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Regard the cryes of Englands wrong,
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turn not thy face away,
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Bear not a proud and lofty mind
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for that will thee decay.
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These be the laws that God did g[i]ve
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to Jacobs seed in wilderness,
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And let us follow them alway
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we may his Land possess.
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But such as will his laws neglect
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and walk after fleshly desire,
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The Lord at last he will them put
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into eternal fire.
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From which the Lord deliver us
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and all that trust in thee.
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That when we do depart this world
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in heaven our place may be.
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