[The Courte of Vertu contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall] |
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An holsome warning for all men
that beare the name of Christians, to lyue Christianly. |
 | [The Courte of Vertu |  |
An holsome warning for all men that beare the name of Christians, to lyue Christianly.
O harke
a whyle vnto my style,
all ye that Christians be,
that beare that name and doe not frame
your liues accordingly.
all ye that Christians be,
that beare that name and doe not frame
your liues accordingly.
[103]
Is Fayth in syche,
As beyng ryche,
(Though they doo Christ professe)
That euery houre
Do Christe deuoure,
And his poore flocke opyresse.
As beyng ryche,
(Though they doo Christ professe)
That euery houre
Do Christe deuoure,
And his poore flocke opyresse.
For we are all,
As sayth saynt Paule,
Membres of one body:
Of Christe Iesu,
Ground of vertue,
And of all vertue.
As sayth saynt Paule,
Membres of one body:
Of Christe Iesu,
Ground of vertue,
And of all vertue.
Then the poore man,
(As proue I can)
Is Christ his member true,
As well as he,
What so he be,
That ryches doth en due.
(As proue I can)
Is Christ his member true,
As well as he,
What so he be,
That ryches doth en due.
Why should ye then,
To symple men,
Beare suche despight and hate?
Syth they be all.
In Christ equall,
With you in all estate.
To symple men,
Beare suche despight and hate?
Syth they be all.
In Christ equall,
With you in all estate.
Christ his kyngdome,
Was neuer wonne,
By wealth or hygh degree:
All though that here,
Some doo appere,
To reygne in dignitie.
Was neuer wonne,
By wealth or hygh degree:
All though that here,
Some doo appere,
To reygne in dignitie.
104
Then let none thynke,
That Christ wyll shrynke,
When he shall iudge vs all:
Of all your wealth
So got by stelthe,
You to accompt to call.
That Christ wyll shrynke,
When he shall iudge vs all:
Of all your wealth
So got by stelthe,
You to accompt to call.
When yf he fynde,
Ye were vnkynde.
To your poore brethern dere:
Then wyll he say.
Go from me aye
Into eternall fyre.
Ye were vnkynde.
To your poore brethern dere:
Then wyll he say.
Go from me aye
Into eternall fyre.
When I lackt meate,
And fayne would eate,
In sycknes thyrst and colde:
In all my nede.
Not one good dede
That you to me doo wold.
And fayne would eate,
In sycknes thyrst and colde:
In all my nede.
Not one good dede
That you to me doo wold.
Then wyll ye say,
Wythout delay:
Lord when dyd we thee see
Lacke any foode,
To doo thee good,
And dyd it not to thee?
Wythout delay:
Lord when dyd we thee see
Lacke any foode,
To doo thee good,
And dyd it not to thee?
And he agayne,
Shall answer playne,
I truely say to you:
Ye styll oppreste,
And muche detest
The poore my members true.
Shall answer playne,
I truely say to you:
Ye styll oppreste,
And muche detest
The poore my members true.
[104]
When ye therfore
Did them abhorre
That are of lowe degree:
To me alone
And other none
Ye did that iniury.
Did them abhorre
That are of lowe degree:
To me alone
And other none
Ye did that iniury.
Saint Iohn doth proue,
We can not loue
God whom we doe not see
If we doe hate
Our brethern, that
Are present to our eye.
We can not loue
God whom we doe not see
If we doe hate
Our brethern, that
Are present to our eye.
Nowe call for grace,
Whyle ye haue space,
Your wycked lyues amende:
And so procede
In worde and dede,
True Christians to the ende.
Whyle ye haue space,
Your wycked lyues amende:
And so procede
In worde and dede,
True Christians to the ende.
| [The Courte of Vertu | |