Franklins Farewell to the World,
With his Christian Contrition
in Prison, before his Death.
|
FArwell vaine World whose comforts all are Cares,
|
Whose gaines are losse, whose liberty are Snares:
|
Whose Gold is Drosse, whose wisedome is meere folly,
|
Whose wealth is woe, whose service is unholly.
|
Whose Life is Death, whose Joy is Griefe and Sadnes:
|
And all that's in thee is a Map of Madnes.
|
Who so (like me) long in the world hath beene,
|
And hath so many alterations seene,
|
How some from Greatnes fall, some Rise from little,
|
How mans foundation slip'ry is and brittle,
|
How Transitory things doe mount and fall
|
At his Great pleasure, that Created all.
|
Whoso doth note, and beare these things in minde;
|
Shall see how Fortunes breath, like wav'ring winde
|
Doth blow up men like bladders with Ambition,
|
And cast them headlong downe to black Perdition.
|
That this is true, the world may plainly see,
|
And view a fearefull spectacle in mee:
|
For I that had enough of fading pelfe,
|
And need not want (except I would myselfe)
|
I that had Sence, Discretion, Reason, Wit,
|
And could discerne things fitting and unfit,
|
I whom my high Creator made a creature,
|
Adorning me with guifts of Art, and Nature
|
Yet of all this I made no further use
|
But Gods, Kings, Countryes and my soules abuse.
|
From crime to crime still plundging further in,
|
With my continuall adding sinne to sinne.
|
Till sinne on sinne, at last brought shame on shame,
|
And shame on shame, paid the desert of blame.
|
My thoughts surmis'd th'Almighties eyes were hid,
|
And that he saw not, what I secret did,
|
But he (whose sight eclipseth Moone and Sun)
|
Hath brought to light the deeds in darknes done;
|
He in his Justice, Justly hath reveal'd
|
My hainous faults which I had long conceal'd:
|
He hath laid open my notorious crimes,
|
To bee a warning to ensuing times;
|
That they shall never dare to doe the like,
|
Least (like to me) his vengeance them doe strike.
|
Then let a dying friend good counsell give,
|
To all Estates and Sexes how they live:
|
Oh let my ending of my loathed breath
|
Make all men care, to shun eternall death.
|
And though my life hath bin polluted foule,
|
Yet Judge with charity my sinfull soule;
|
For were the Sinnes of all the world in me,
|
Yet (with the eye of Faith) I cleerely see
|
That Gods great mercy, like a boundles flood
|
Through my blest Saviour and Redeemers blood,
|
Hath freely pardon'd all that I have done,
|
(By th'intercession of his onely Sonne,)
|
So that my stedfast faith doth me perswade,
|
My peace forever with my God is made.
|
Hee that Raisd Lazarus from out his Grave;
|
He that upon the Crosse the Theife did save,
|
'Tis he alone; and onely none but hee
|
Hath raisd me up from Death, and saved me.
|
Yea, though I all my lifetime have liv'd evill,
|
A servant, and a slave unto the Devill:
|
Yet heer's the Joy that makes my courage bolde,
|
My Saviour Christ hath tooke me to his folde,
|
Hee, true Repentance unto me hath giv'n,
|
And for me (through his merits) purchas'd Heav'n.
|
Then World, Flesh, Sathan, and grim Death avaunt,
|
Doe all your worst, my Faith you cannot daunt:
|
He, that for me hath conquer'd Death and Hell,
|
Hath granted me that I with him shall dwell.
|
And though my life Eternall fire did merit,
|
Yet God in mercy hath receiv'd my Spirit.
|
Farwell my Countrey, by whose Justice I,
|
For mine unjust and bloody action dye.
|
Farewell most Sacred and Renowned King,
|
Whose equall Judgement through the world doth ring:
|
Whose zeale to Right, and whose Impartiall hand,
|
Are the maine prop on which this State doth stand.
|
Long may he Raigne, in his Majestick-seate,
|
And as on Earth, bee made in Heav'n more great.
|
Let his Posterity, and Royall Race
|
Be all Inspir'd with the supernall Grace:
|
And of his seed let us have Alwaies one
|
To sway the Scepter of Great Britaines Throne.
|
Defend them Lord from soule and body harmes,
|
From home-bred Traytors, and from Foreigne Armes
|
That in thy favour they may live and dye,
|
And dye to live with thee Immortally.
|
|
|
|
|
|