Heavens Glory, Seeke It Earts Vanitie, Flye It. Hells Horror, Fere It [by Samuel Rowlands] |
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| THE Common Cals, Cryes and Sounds of the Bell-man.
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 | Heavens Glory, Seeke It |  |
THE Common Cals, Cryes and Sounds of the Bell-man.
OR Diuers Verses to put vs in minde of our mortalitie.
Which may serue as warnings to be prepared at all times for the day of our death.
For Christmas day.
Remember all that on this morne,Our blessed Sauior Christ was borne;
Who issued from a Virgin pure,
Our soules from Sathan to secure,
And patronise our feeble spirit,
That we through him may heauen inherit.
For Saint Stephens night.
This blessed time beare in your minde,How that blest Martyr Stephen dyed,
In whom was all that good confinde,
That might with flesh and bloud abide:
Taught what to doe, and what to flee:
Full of the spirit he would preach,
Against opinions false and naught,
Confute them too, and boldly teach
What Christ himselfe to him had taught;
For which at last he lost his breath,
Ston'd by the stony hearts to death:
Let vs then learn by this blest Martyrs end,
To see our follies, and our liues amend.
For Saint Johns day.
This man the word did boldly teach,Saw Christ transformed, and did preach,
The glory in that Mount he saw;
And by that glory stroue to draw,
The soule of man to sinne a thrall,
To heauen, to which God send vs all.
For Innocents day.
The swords of Herods seruants tookeSuch sweet yong things, as with a look
Might make a heart of Marble melt,
But they nor grace, nor pittie felt;
Some from the cradle, some awake,
Some sweetly sleeping, some they take
Dandled vpon their mothers lap,
Some from their armes, some from the pap.
For New-yeares day.
All you that doe the Bell-man heare,The first day of this hopefull yeare;
I doe in loue admonish you,
To bid your old sins all adue,
In holy deeds and good desires,
Which if to doe youle doe your best,
God will in Christ forgiue the rest.
For Saint Dauids day.
I am no Welchman, but yet to showThe loue I to the Countrey owe,
I call this morning, and beseeke
Each man prepare him for his Leeke;
For as I heare some men say,
The first of March is Saint Dauids day;
That worthy Britaine, valiant wise,
Withstood his Countries enemies,
And caused his Souldiers there to choose
Leekes for to know them from his foes;
Wno brauely fought, and conquest won,
And so the custome first begun.
To memorize your worthies name:
So noble Britaines all adew,
Loue still King Charles, for he loues you.
For the 5. of Nouemb.
Awake Britaines subiectswith one accord,
Extoll and praise,
and magnifie the Lord,
Humble your hearts,
and with deuotion sing
Praises of thanks to God
for our most gracious King;
This was the night
when in a darksome Cell,
Treason was found in earth
it hatcht in hell;
what would auail'd our sorrow,
The traine being laid
to haue blowne vs vp o'th' morrow?
Yet God our guide
reueal'd the damned plot,
And they themselues destroy'd,
and we were not.
Then let vs not forget
him thankes to render,
That hath preseru'd and kept
our faiths defender.
For Good Fryday.
All you that now in bed doe lye,Know, Iesus Christ this night did dye,
Our soules most sinfull for to saue,
That we eternall life might haue;
Would make vs weepe, lament, and mourn.
For Sunday.
Les
labour passe, let prayer be
This day the chiefest worke for thee,
Thy selfe and seruants more and lesse,
This day must let all labour passe.
This day the chiefest worke for thee,
Thy selfe and seruants more and lesse,
This day must let all labour passe.
All hale to you that sleepe and rest;
Repent, awake, your sinnes detest,
Call to your minde the day of doome,
For then our Sauiour Christ will come,
Accompt to haue he hath decreed,
Of euery thought, word, worke, and deede:
And as we haue our times here past,
So shall our Iudgements be at last.
Repent, awake, your sinnes detest,
Call to your minde the day of doome,
For then our Sauiour Christ will come,
Accompt to haue he hath decreed,
Of euery thought, word, worke, and deede:
And as we haue our times here past,
So shall our Iudgements be at last.
As
darkesome night
vnto thy thoughts present,
What 'tis to want
the dayes bright Element,
So let thy soule descend
through contemplation,
Where vtter darknesse keepes
her habitation,
Where endlesse, easelesse
pines remedilesse
Attend to torture sinnes
curst wilfulnesse:
O then remember
whilst thou yet hast time
To call for mercy for
each forepast crime;
And with good Dauid
wash thy bed with teares,
That so repentance may
subdue hels feares:
Then shall thy soule
more purer then the Sunne,
Ioy as a Gyant
her best race to runne,
And in vnspotted robes
her selfe addresse
To meet her Lord
that Sonne of righteousnesse,
To whom with God the Father
and the Spirit
Be all due praise,
where all true ioyes inherit.
vnto thy thoughts present,
What 'tis to want
the dayes bright Element,
So let thy soule descend
through contemplation,
Where vtter darknesse keepes
her habitation,
Where endlesse, easelesse
pines remedilesse
Attend to torture sinnes
curst wilfulnesse:
O then remember
whilst thou yet hast time
To call for mercy for
each forepast crime;
And with good Dauid
wash thy bed with teares,
subdue hels feares:
Then shall thy soule
more purer then the Sunne,
Ioy as a Gyant
her best race to runne,
And in vnspotted robes
her selfe addresse
To meet her Lord
that Sonne of righteousnesse,
To whom with God the Father
and the Spirit
Be all due praise,
where all true ioyes inherit.
The
Belman like the wakefull
morning Cocke,
Doth warne you to be vigilant
and wise:
Looke to your fire, your candle
and your locke,
Preuent what may through
negligence arise;
So may you sleepe with peace
and wake with ioy,
And no mischances shall
your state annoy.
morning Cocke,
Doth warne you to be vigilant
and wise:
and your locke,
Preuent what may through
negligence arise;
So may you sleepe with peace
and wake with ioy,
And no mischances shall
your state annoy.
Your
beds compare vnto the graue,
Then thinke what sepulcher you haue.
For though you lay you downe to sleepe,
The Belman wakes your peace to keepe,
And nightly walkes the round about,
To see if fire and light be out;
But when the morne (dayes light) appeares
Be you as ready for your prayers:
So shall your labours thriue each day,
That you the Belman well may pay.
Then thinke what sepulcher you haue.
For though you lay you downe to sleepe,
The Belman wakes your peace to keepe,
And nightly walkes the round about,
To see if fire and light be out;
But when the morne (dayes light) appeares
Be you as ready for your prayers:
So shall your labours thriue each day,
That you the Belman well may pay.
Like
to the Seaman is our life,
Tost by the waues of sinfull strife,
Finding no ground whereon to stand,
Vncertaine death is still at hand:
If that our liues so vainlesse be,
Then all the world is vanitie.
Tost by the waues of sinfull strife,
Finding no ground whereon to stand,
Vncertaine death is still at hand:
If that our liues so vainlesse be,
Then all the world is vanitie.
Those
that liue in wrath and ire,
And goe to rest in any sinne,
They are worse vnto their house the fire,
Or violent theeues that would breake in.
Then seeke to shun with all your might,
That Hidras head, that monstrous sin;
That God may blesse your goods abroad,
And eke also your selues within.
And goe to rest in any sinne,
They are worse vnto their house the fire,
Or violent theeues that would breake in.
Then seeke to shun with all your might,
That Hidras head, that monstrous sin;
That God may blesse your goods abroad,
And eke also your selues within.
Sleepe
on in peace, yet waking be,
And dread his powerfull Maiestie,
Who can translate the irkesome night,
From darknesse to that glorious light,
Whose radient beames when once they rise,
With winged speed the darknesse flyes.
And dread his powerfull Maiestie,
Who can translate the irkesome night,
From darknesse to that glorious light,
Whose radient beames when once they rise,
With winged speed the darknesse flyes.
Thou
God that art our helpe at hand,
Preserue and keepe our King & land
Frem forraigne and domesticke foes,
Such as the word and truth depose;
And euer prosper those of pittie,
That loue the peace of this our Citie.
Preserue and keepe our King & land
Frem forraigne and domesticke foes,
Such as the word and truth depose;
And euer prosper those of pittie,
That loue the peace of this our Citie.
Awake
from sleepe, awake from sin,
With voyce and heart to call on him,
Who from aboue pleas'd to descend,
From Sathans malice to defend
Our forfeit soules, to that rich grace
Where we may still behold his face.
With voyce and heart to call on him,
From Sathans malice to defend
Our forfeit soules, to that rich grace
Where we may still behold his face.
Let
vs repare and God implore,
That henceforth we transgres no more
And that our ioy be at this tide,
That we in him be satisfide;
Then shall we all for his deare sake,
Be blest asleepe, be blest awake.
That henceforth we transgres no more
And that our ioy be at this tide,
That we in him be satisfide;
Then shall we all for his deare sake,
Be blest asleepe, be blest awake.
Sith
neither men nor Angels know,
When as the dreadful trump shal blow,
Nor when our Sauiour Christ shall come
To giue the world a wofull doome;
Thinke then but what a case you're in,
That sleepe in vnrepented sinne:
O wake, O wake, O watch and pray,
And thinke vpon this dreadfull day.
When as the dreadful trump shal blow,
Nor when our Sauiour Christ shall come
To giue the world a wofull doome;
Thinke then but what a case you're in,
That sleepe in vnrepented sinne:
And thinke vpon this dreadfull day.
Sleepe
not so sound, rest not secure,
Marke well my words, of this be sure
The waking Virgins past the gate,
When those that slept came all too late:
Wherefore be watchfull in your center,
That you may with the Bridegrome enter.
Marke well my words, of this be sure
The waking Virgins past the gate,
When those that slept came all too late:
Wherefore be watchfull in your center,
That you may with the Bridegrome enter.
If
wicked impes wake day and night,
And keepe their candle alwayes light,
And all their skill and practise bend,
To bring their damned plots to end;
Let vs not sleepe, but laud his skill,
That frustrates all their proiects still.
And keepe their candle alwayes light,
And all their skill and practise bend,
To bring their damned plots to end;
Let vs not sleepe, but laud his skill,
That frustrates all their proiects still.
The
night well spent,
the day drawes nigh,
Awake from sleepe
and sinne defie,
All sluggish sloath expell away,
Haue still in minde the iudgement day,
When dead shall rise at trumpets call,
The graues shall open wide with all.
the day drawes nigh,
Awake from sleepe
and sinne defie,
All sluggish sloath expell away,
Haue still in minde the iudgement day,
When dead shall rise at trumpets call,
The graues shall open wide with all.
Arise
from sinne,
awake from sleepe,
The earth doth mourne,
The heauens weepe;
The winds and Seas distempered bin,
And all by reason of mans sin:
Wherefore arise, lay sleepe aside,
And call on God to be your guide,
From raging sword and arrowes flight,
And from the terrours of the night;
From fires flame, from sin and sorrow,
God blesse you all, and so good morrow.
awake from sleepe,
The earth doth mourne,
The heauens weepe;
The winds and Seas distempered bin,
And all by reason of mans sin:
Wherefore arise, lay sleepe aside,
And call on God to be your guide,
And from the terrours of the night;
From fires flame, from sin and sorrow,
God blesse you all, and so good morrow.
All
you which in your beds doe lye,
Vnto the Lord ye ought to cry,
That he would pardon all your sinnes;
And thus the Belmans prayer begins;
Lord giue vs grace our sinful life to mend,
And at the last to send a ioyfull end:
Hauing put out your fire and your light,
For to conclude, I bid you all good night.
Vnto the Lord ye ought to cry,
That he would pardon all your sinnes;
And thus the Belmans prayer begins;
Lord giue vs grace our sinful life to mend,
And at the last to send a ioyfull end:
Hauing put out your fire and your light,
For to conclude, I bid you all good night.
Mans
life is like a warfare
on the earth,
Whose time is spent with
troubles, toyles and cares,
Subiect to all temptations
from his birth:
In woe he liues and dyes
at vnawares.
The surest signe true
fortitude to show,
Is in his life all
vice to ouerthrow.
on the earth,
Whose time is spent with
troubles, toyles and cares,
from his birth:
In woe he liues and dyes
at vnawares.
The surest signe true
fortitude to show,
Is in his life all
vice to ouerthrow.
O harke
, O harke my Masters all,
To your poore seruants cry and call:
And know all you that lye at ease,
That our great God may if he please,
Depriue you of your vitall breath:
Then sleeping, thinke your sleep is death.
To your poore seruants cry and call:
And know all you that lye at ease,
That our great God may if he please,
Depriue you of your vitall breath:
Then sleeping, thinke your sleep is death.
Let
true repentance cleanse your sin,
And then your soules cōmend to him,
That by his death hath rais'd and cur'd
The dead, the blinde, and them assured
To giue to them eternall rest,
To liue in heauen among the blest.
And then your soules cōmend to him,
The dead, the blinde, and them assured
To giue to them eternall rest,
To liue in heauen among the blest.
Confesse thy sinnes to God on hie,
Who pardons sinners when they cry;
Bewray thy faults to him in time,
Who will in Christ forgiue thy crime.
Who pardons sinners when they cry;
Bewray thy faults to him in time,
Who will in Christ forgiue thy crime.
He
that on the crosse hath dyed,
And for our sinnes was crucisied,
Be you euer blest in him,
And cleane remitted from your sinne:
Be it granted as I haue praid,
And so the Belman resteth paid.
And for our sinnes was crucisied,
Be you euer blest in him,
And cleane remitted from your sinne:
Be it granted as I haue praid,
And so the Belman resteth paid.
All
you that in bed doe lye,
Harken well to what I cry,
Leaue of your sinnes, repentance craue,
It is the enely way your soules to saue.
Harken well to what I cry,
Leaue of your sinnes, repentance craue,
It is the enely way your soules to saue.
Repent
in time while ye haue breath,
Repentāce commeth not after death:
He therefore that will liue for aye,
Must leaue his sinnes, and to God pray.
Repentāce commeth not after death:
He therefore that will liue for aye,
Must leaue his sinnes, and to God pray.
O gracious
God and blessed,
Preserue all ye that be in bed,
So that your quiet rest may take,
Vntill the morning that yee wake:
Then may ye all with praises sing,
To thee O God our heauenly King.
Preserue all ye that be in bed,
So that your quiet rest may take,
Vntill the morning that yee wake:
Then may ye all with praises sing,
To thee O God our heauenly King.
Remember
man thou art but dust,
There is none aliue but dye he must,
To day a man, to morrow none,
So soone our life is past and gone.
Mans life is like a withered flower,
Aliue and dead all in an houre,
Leaue of thy sins therefore in time,
And Christ will rid thee from thy crime.
There is none aliue but dye he must,
To day a man, to morrow none,
So soone our life is past and gone.
Mans life is like a withered flower,
Aliue and dead all in an houre,
Leaue of thy sins therefore in time,
And Christ will rid thee from thy crime.
O mortall
man that is made of dust,
In worldly riches put not thy trust,
Remember how thy time doth passe,
Euen like the sand that from the Glasse,
Hath spent the time and there remaines,
Neuer canst thou call that time againe.
In worldly riches put not thy trust,
Remember how thy time doth passe,
Euen like the sand that from the Glasse,
Hath spent the time and there remaines,
Neuer canst thou call that time againe.
Sicke
men complaine they cannot sleepe,
The Bel-man such a noise doth keepe;
Others that doe win at play,
Saies he too soone proclaimes the day:
Yet to the sicke that drawes short breath,
It puts them in the minde of death;
And saies the gamster makes good stake,
If he for heauen so long would wake;
And all this while like silly worme,
He doth his office but performe:
Then if his duety breed disease,
Heele go to bed and none displease.
The Bel-man such a noise doth keepe;
Others that doe win at play,
Saies he too soone proclaimes the day:
Yet to the sicke that drawes short breath,
It puts them in the minde of death;
And saies the gamster makes good stake,
If he for heauen so long would wake;
And all this while like silly worme,
He doth his office but performe:
Then if his duety breed disease,
Heele go to bed and none displease.
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