The Pilgrimes New-yeares-Gift or, Fourteene Steps to the Throne of Glory. By the 7. Corporeall and 7. Spirituall Acts of Charitie, and those made Parallels. By Ralph Crane |
 |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
Canto 4.
|
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
 | The Pilgrimes New-yeares-Gift |  |
25
Canto 4.
The Pilgrime now writes downe
what MERCIE farther showes,
That mē may striue to gain a Crowne
by easing Prisoners woes.
The more the Charitable man proceeds,
what MERCIE farther showes,
That mē may striue to gain a Crowne
by easing Prisoners woes.
Flow greater Miseries, to meet his deedes;
If he looke now with Mercies melting eye
Into the Gaoles, where wretched Prisoners lye,
Foure Miseries ioyn'd in one, he there shall see,
Hunger, thirst, barenesse, and Captiuity:
He then that truely cleeres this combin'd-Griefe,
Fairely sets off, foure workes in one Reliefe,
This (amōgst all Afflictions) most extends
When man lyes lock't both from his Meanes and Friends
Sure from th' Infernall Lake 'twas first deriu'd,
For so lost soules lye of all Ioyes depriu'd,
Twas the most cruell Punishment indeed
That euer was deuis'd, to vex true Need:
To make Necessity more haplesse: want
More miserable: Scarcitie more scant;
26
We'll bar all Means, & see what heauen will doe:
Such are the Mercilesse Creditors, that ioyne
Misery to want: as they doe blood to Coyne,
And deuowre widowes houses vnder colour
Of long lip-praying: (making the Plague fuller)
Let Prisons swallow needy soules no more,
But all rich Trust-breakers that make them Poore,
On this Iustice it self may boldly venture,
Cleere 'hem of True-men, that great theeues may enter
For now there is no roome: nor would it hold
To shut vp Sheepe and Goates both in one Fold.
If thou desir'st this wrong but to redresse,
I'll trust thy Pitty for the Harbourlesse.
| The Pilgrimes New-yeares-Gift | |