A
Character of a true Christian.
Written by Abiezar Copp. The Tune is, The Fair Nimphs.
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Love.
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A Christian true doth love
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his Father that's above,
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His Brother that's below.
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his Friends, and eak his Foe,
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The Rich, the Poor, the great, the small,
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the Strong, the Weak, he loveth all.
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Self-denyal.
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He still denyes himself,
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not greedily gripes for Pelf,
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Doth neither pole nor pill,
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his Chests or Barns to fill,
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His Neighbours Good, not Goods, doth seek,
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he's honest, harmless, loving, meek.
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Humility.
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Not pust in mind is he:
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all those of low degree,
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Do never taste his Scorn,
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the Base, the Vile, Forlorn:
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He's bounteous, courteous, loving and kind,
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to all he bears a gentle mind.
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Stability.
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He still at home doth keep,
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and his own door doth sweep;
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Doth not debase his mind,
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in seeking Faults to find:
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He picks no hole in Neighbours Coat;
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nor strives in's Ey to finde a Mote,
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Forbearance.
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His Lamb-like spirit doth bear,
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he doth not fight nor tear,
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Nor flounce, nor fling, nor fume,
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but Meekness doth perfume
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His Soul, when he is injured,
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Captivity is captive led.
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Mercy.
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His burning Bowels yern,
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from thence his Eye doth learn,
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To 'still some oyl of Right
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into the wretched Weight.
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His hand is fired by his heart,
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his Substance to the poor to impart.
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Charity.
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His Charity is not small,
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it doth extend to all,
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The bad and eke the good:
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not like the formal Mode,
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Who none but their own Sect endure,
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this is from the Fountain pure.
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Wisdom.
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He wisely walks to all,
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and to prevent a Fall,
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He looks before he leaps:
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a narrow Watch he keeps,
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When to speak, he well doth see,
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and when silent he's to be.
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Peace.
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His Principle is Peace,
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in him all Wars do cease,
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The sword and Gown may stand,
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both distant from his Land,
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He is endear'd to great and small,
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he lives in Love and Peace with all.
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Obedience.
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He marcheth in the Van,
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to each Decree of man,
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For God's sake he subjects,
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to all he yields respects,
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The Prince of Peace doth Peace impart,
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he hates all Plots with all his heart.
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Freedom.
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The Son hath made him Free
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from AEgypts Slavery,
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From daily Brick and Task,
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he needs no religious Mask,
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Through Christ he all things doth and can,
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he's wholy the Lords free man.
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Patience.
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He bravely bears the Cross,
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and sits down by the loss,
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When Sabeans on him fall,
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and Caldees take his all.
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Not these nor those, but God in Heav'n,
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he saith, Hath taken as well as giv'n.
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Content.
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Soul-killing Discontent,
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whereby pure life is spent,
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And marrow melts away,
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with him it cannot stay:
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His Soul in Patience doth possess,
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for, Evil and Good the Lord doth bless.
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Resignation.
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For wholly he's resign'd
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unto the Unconfin'd,
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God's pleasure is his Law,
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of that he stands in aw.
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When Self is swept away and gone,
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he sayes and lives, God's Will be done.
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