A WATCH
For a Wise Mans
OBSERVATION.
Where is Alexander? Where is Plato?
Where is Croesus?
Alexander's Victories, Plato's Wisdom, Cresus Wealth and Lust,
Is all Forgot, Consum'd, and come to Dust.
The Emperour, King, Noble, Begger, All
Must yield to Death, and come when he doth call.
Time brings to Death, the King, and the Beggar.
Mortuus Est.
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I.
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ONe God there is, of Wisdom, Glory, Might,
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One Faith there is, to guide our Souls aright,
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One truth there is, that Errours doth descry,
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One Baptism, 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 maist view,
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The one for Works and Deeds doth Precepts give,
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The other saies, the Just by Faith shall 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, Son, and Holy Ghost, these Three,
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For ever Equal, and Eternal be.
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IV.
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Four 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 his Ascending,
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Whereof our Faith must have true comprehending.
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V.
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Five Senses do in every Man maintain,
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A Governing of Power, Rule, and Raign,
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Thy Hearing, Seeing, Tasting, Feelling, Smelling,
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Which all at Death will leave thee, & their dwelling.
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VI.
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Six Days thou hast to Labour in,
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(So Merciful and Good thy God hath been)
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Of Seaven, to himself 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 Liberal Arts, by a Divine instinct,
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Unto Man's Understanding Soul is linkt;
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Rhetorich, Grammer, Musick, Geometry,
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Arithmetick, Logick, and Astronomy.
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VIII.
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Eight Persons in the Ark of Righteous Noah,
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Were saved, when for Sin God did destroy
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The soul defiled World; all creatures drown'd,
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Which in that Ship of safety was not found.
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IX.
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Nine Muses like unto the Heavens nine Sphears,
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The Sacred Tunes intice inclining Ears:
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To elevate each sad Melancholly mind,
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And chear the heart that's dolefully inclin'd.
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X.
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Ten Precepts God hath in his Law declar'd,
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Man breaks them all: and so unless God spar'd,
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And in his Mercy did our Sin remit,
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Our just reward were in th' Infernal Pit.
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XI.
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Eleven Disciples did with Jesus pray,
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When Judas did the Son of God betray:
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Through Covetousness: for greedy gain he fell,
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To be Perditions Child, condemn'd in 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 in New Jerusalem there be,
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Unto which City, Christ bring thee and me.
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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 remain,
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Till Earth from Earth do rise again:
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And Earth before his Judge do come,
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For to receive a final doom:
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If Earth on Earth hath 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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O serve the Lord with might and power,
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For there thou hast no certain hour:
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Remember Man, when thou cam'st here,
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How Naked, Poor, thou did'st appear;
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And how again (what e're thou have,)
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Thou naked must return 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 Soul (if saved) to Heaven flyes,
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Thy body here a rotting lies:
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Forsaken of thy Friends and Kin,
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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 yeilded Earth what Earth doth crave;
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They back return 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 here's thy Portion and thy Lot,
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With men thou shalt be soon forgot;
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And so into Oblivion pass,
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Who! 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! think 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 for ever sing.
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