[The Courte of Vertu contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall] |
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A ditie shewyng the office of all estates:
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 | [The Courte of Vertu |  |
A ditie shewyng the office of all estates:
warnyng them to repent, & walke euery estate accordyng to their callyng.
Let
heauen harke & earth geue eare,
let mountains bowe with humblenes:
let waters all their rage forbeare,
and once growe to some stablenes.
wauer no more with evry wynde
but once cleaue to a constant mynde,
In fayth and loue,
for why the lord him self doth speake,
and will you els in sonder breake,
euen from aboue.
let mountains bowe with humblenes:
let waters all their rage forbeare,
and once growe to some stablenes.
wauer no more with evry wynde
but once cleaue to a constant mynde,
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for why the lord him self doth speake,
and will you els in sonder breake,
euen from aboue.
Let not god speake now to deafe eares,
Nor vnto hartes made of flynt stone:
But rather with repentant teares
Bewayle your synnes now evry one.
And let a godly lyfe all newe
Shew forth frutes of repentance true,
And them expresse.
That from henceforth in such new lyfe,
We may remayn without all stryfe,
In righteousnes.
Nor vnto hartes made of flynt stone:
But rather with repentant teares
Bewayle your synnes now evry one.
And let a godly lyfe all newe
Shew forth frutes of repentance true,
And them expresse.
That from henceforth in such new lyfe,
We may remayn without all stryfe,
In righteousnes.
Let suche as shewe the heauenly muse
Haue godly conuersation,
Least through their vyle and great abuse
They worke abhomination:
When as in synfull wayes they walke,
Contrary to their outwarde talke,
And gods true worde.
For who that sclandreth so the truthe.
Their myrth shall turne to wo and ruthe
Before the lorde.
Haue godly conuersation,
Least through their vyle and great abuse
They worke abhomination:
When as in synfull wayes they walke,
Contrary to their outwarde talke,
And gods true worde.
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Their myrth shall turne to wo and ruthe
Before the lorde.
Let kynges that mountains sygnifie,
In iustice doe styll their due part:
Supporte no more iniquitie,
Nor mainteyne suche as are peruart.
Se that henceforth with all your myght
Ye put downe wrong & mainteine right.
Or els surely
The lord God whiche is kyng of all,
Your glory turne to shame he shall
Moste ryghteously.
In iustice doe styll their due part:
Supporte no more iniquitie,
Nor mainteyne suche as are peruart.
Se that henceforth with all your myght
Ye put downe wrong & mainteine right.
Or els surely
The lord God whiche is kyng of all,
Your glory turne to shame he shall
Moste ryghteously.
Let nowe the waueryng multitude,
That signifyd is by the sea,
Oh let I saye this rable rude
Still henceforth cleaue to constancie.
And not them selues as waters showe,
Unstable for to ebbe and flowe:
But styll depende,
Upon the churche to lerne their due,
And serue their kyng wt hartes most true,
Euen styll an ende.
That signifyd is by the sea,
Oh let I saye this rable rude
Still henceforth cleaue to constancie.
And not them selues as waters showe,
Unstable for to ebbe and flowe:
But styll depende,
Upon the churche to lerne their due,
And serue their kyng wt hartes most true,
Euen styll an ende.
Let not the churche be temporall,
Let not rulers be rude and vayne:
Let no man from his calling fall,
But eche man in his state remayne:
Let not the common people deale
With matters highe of common weale.
For why I saye,
If one anothers callyng vse,
All equitie they doo refuse
From day to daye.
Let not rulers be rude and vayne:
Let no man from his calling fall,
But eche man in his state remayne:
Let not the common people deale
With matters highe of common weale.
For why I saye,
If one anothers callyng vse,
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From day to daye.
Let all men nowe repent therfore,
And leaue theyr synne without delay.
And henceforth vse the same no more:
Least by theyr goyng thus astray,
Gods wrathe in hast they doo procure:
For this theyr doyngs so vnpure
In synfull trade.
Knowe that the Lorde his mercy styll,
Dothe offer all with ryght good wyll,
That he hath made.
And leaue theyr synne without delay.
And henceforth vse the same no more:
Least by theyr goyng thus astray,
Gods wrathe in hast they doo procure:
For this theyr doyngs so vnpure
In synfull trade.
Knowe that the Lorde his mercy styll,
Dothe offer all with ryght good wyll,
That he hath made.
Let men whyle mercy then doothe last,
Haue mynde of this theyr onely meane,
Abhorre theyr yll lyfe that is past:
Lyftyng their eyes vp into heauen.
Lokyng from thence for theyr reliefe:
Whiche is a salue for all our griefe,
Swete Christe Iesu.
Your hartes and eares I say attend,
That you to blysse without all end,
May hence insue.
Haue mynde of this theyr onely meane,
Abhorre theyr yll lyfe that is past:
Lyftyng their eyes vp into heauen.
Lokyng from thence for theyr reliefe:
Whiche is a salue for all our griefe,
Swete Christe Iesu.
Your hartes and eares I say attend,
That you to blysse without all end,
May hence insue.
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