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O People all now here mark well
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Which I to you do plainly tell,
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Your time doth pass and fade away;
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Your body soon must turn to clay.
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It doth therefore behove us all,
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Both Rich and poor, both Great and small:
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Ourselves prepare still for to die,
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That we may live with Christ on high.
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Nine Weapons charg'd against us be
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By Satan our grand Enemie!
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The which are Nine most deadly sins
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That many souls to ruine brings.
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I. II.
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The First is Pride came from the Devil,
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The Second Covetousness the root of evil;
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They are the Grand and horrid Crimes,
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That most do use in these sad times.
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III.
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The third is Lechery, or lust most Vile
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That Soul and Body doth defile,
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The lustfull whore with greedy mind;
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Longs for a Knave where she may find.
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IV.
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The Fourth is Envy, Like the Serpent Snake.
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Unhappy thing would all unhappy make:
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And hates that we should happy be,
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And therefore seeks our miserie.
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V.
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The Fifth is Wrath Like firie-Hell,
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Executing Mischief sad and fell;
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Wrath will be Cruel in his mood:
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Not sparing for to spill Man's Blood.
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VI.
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The Sixth is Sloath, will take no pain,
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His Soul to save, sweet Christ to gain:
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Sloath will not labour, but be Idle,
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The Devil hath him in his bridle.
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VII.
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The Seventh is gluttonie, a monstrous thing,
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Which doth in Hell with Dives bring:
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More happy Lazarus that Crumbs did eat,
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Than Dives with his sumptuous meat.
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VIII.
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The Eighth is Drunkenness, a beastly sin,
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Which men dead all foaming in:
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Their Drunken Gore makes them to reel,
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And down they tumble into Hell.
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IX.
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The Ninth is Unbelief, the worst of all,
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The most damning sin that can befall:
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It robs God of his Honour, and his Crown,
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And in Hell's deepest Torments, throws us down.
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The way how to overcome these NINE MOR-
TAL SINS are these.
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First, slay pride by humbleness that glorious thing
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Beg hard for it of Christ our King:
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It will advance thee up on high,
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To live with Christ eternally.
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II.
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Slay Covetousness with a generous mind
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Rich Treasure in Heaven thou then shall find:
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The poor relieve, and thou shalt gain;
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Glory with Angels for thy pain.
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III.
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Slay Leachery or Lust, with Lust for grace,
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That thou mayst run a vertuous race:
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Which Leads where Saints and Angels sings,
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Hosannah to Sweet Christ our King.
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IV.
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Slay Envy by harmonious Love,
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To every one thyself approve:
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Such where God hath chosen for his,
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To live with him in Heavenly bliss.
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V
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Slay Wrath by Meakness O that is good,
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'Twill bath thy Soul in Christ's sweet blood:
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And make the be obedient still,
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Meekly to submit unto God's will.
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VI.
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Slay Sloath by labouring Night and day,
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Thy Soul to save to live alway:
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Where Saints and Angels ever dwell,
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And thy dear Soul keep free from hell.
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VII.
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Slay Gluttony with sweet temperature,
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To moderateness thyself inure:
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And feed most on God's heavenly word,
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Which for to save thee doth afford.
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VIII.
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Slay drunkeness with a moderate use,
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Of drinking and be not profuse:
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In drinking, but thirst thou still,
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For Grace to live unto God's will;
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Then happy thirst, and thirst again,
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And thou in glory shall remain.
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IX.
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Slay unbelief by faith in Christ,
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'Twill bring thee Glory in the highest:
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Believe thou in God's promise made;
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And beg thy Faith may never fade.
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Thus if thou Conquer all these sins,
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Which brings poor souls mongst damned Fins:
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Then happy thou Indeed shalt be;
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In heavenly joys Eternally.
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