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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, for Man to practise in;
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One Baptism to cleanse our Souls from Sin.
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I.
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TWO Testaments there are, the Old and New,
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Wherein the Law and Gospel thou may'st view,
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The One for Works annd Deeds doth Precepts give,
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The other says, 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 most Divine and Righteous Holy Men,
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They did the Life of our Redeemer Pen:
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'Twas Matthew, Mark, nay Luke and John likewise,
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Whose Righteous Truths let e'ry Christion Prize.
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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 Reign,
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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 Days, O Man, thou hast to labour in,
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So Merciful and Good thy GOD hath been;
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Of Seven to himself be takes but One,
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O rob him not of that, to leave him none.
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VII.
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SEven Liberal Arts, by a Divine Decree,
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Unto Man's knowing Soul united be;
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Rhetorick, Grammar, 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 Noah were,
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When GOD he would the World no longer spare:
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Sin did abound, therefore all Flesh he 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 they Harmonious Voices raise,
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To Sing our Blessed Dear Redeemer's Praise,
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Who is the Spring from whence all Blessings flow
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To we poor living Mortals here below.
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X.
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THere's Ten Commandments which we should obey,
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And yet how apt are we to run astray,
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Breaking them all, our Folly to pursue,
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As if we did not fear what GOD could do.
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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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Th[rou]gh Covetuousness, for greedy Gain he fell,
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To be Perdition's 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 dos hold;
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Twelve Gates ith' New-Jerusalem there be,
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Unto which City Christ bring Thee and Me.
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THE
SECOND PART,
CONTAINING
A Preparation for Death.
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THou Earthly Mortal Man, observe this well,
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If thou in Wickedness on Earth do dwell:
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Then in a dying Hour mai'st thou find
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The sad effects of a disquiet Mind:
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For in this World we have not long to live,
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And when we come to die, what would we give
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To be assured of a Resting Place,
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So soon as we have run out Nature's Race.
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Nothing but Sorrows do our Life attend,
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Therefore let us think of our latter End;
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That when we on the Bed of Sorrow lye,
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We may have nothing else to do, but die.
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Oh! let not Folly steal thy Heart away,
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Remember still that there will come a Day,
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That we to GOD a just Account must give,
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How, well or ill, we here on Earth did live.
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He that a Holy, Upright Life will lead,
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And fain would be a Christian now indeed,
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Must still approach the Throne of Grace, by Prayer,
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Making Religion here his constant care.
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In Blooming Youth 'tis best for to begin
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To seek the Lord, and take our leave of Sin;
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For having early took a Righteous Way,
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We are not then so apt to go astray.
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But often do we see the Blooming Youth
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Delight in Sin, neglect the Word of Truth,
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And think it time enough for to amend
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Our evil ways when Life is at an End.
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No greater danger in the World can be
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For our poor Souls, than such loose Liberty;
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It causes Man Repentance to delay,
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When we an't sure to see another Day.
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Why should poor Mortals eagerly pursue
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Those vain Delights, which will our Griefs renew;
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For after sinning Thirty, Forty Years,
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It may occasion sad Repenting Tears.
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And therefore now, before it is too late,
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Let e'ry one think of a Future State;
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And on the Mercies of the Lord relye,
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For who is he that lives, and shall not Die?
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And from your Duty do not turn aside,
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But mind the Holy-Bible, more than Pride,
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In which the Righteous Law of God's reveal'd,
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And will in time of Trouble Comfort yield.
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I speak to all of High and Low Degree,
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Serve ye the Lord with true Sincerity;
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The Rich as well as Poor have Souls to save,
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And there is no Repentance in the Grave.
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The Brows that sweat for Kingdoms and Renows
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To Glorifie their Temples with a Crown;
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Must leave their Diadem when Death shall call,
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Memento mori is the end of all.
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Riches and Honour, Crowns and Dignity,
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Those fading Glories most uncertain be;
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Nothing substantial in this World we find,
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But ery thing is turning with the Wind.
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Yet if in God alone we put our Trust,
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Who is both Gracious, Merciful, and Just,
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Making his Holy Word our Rule, and Guide,
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'Tis better worth than all the World beside
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