One and Thyrtye Epigrammes wherein are briefly touched so many Abuses, that maye and ought to be put away. Compiled and Imprinted by Robert Crowley |
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| The Boke to the Reader. |
 | One and Thyrtye Epigrammes |  |
The Boke to the Reader.
If
bokes may be bolde
to blame and reproue,
The faultes of all menne
boeth hyghe and lowe:
As the Prophetes dyd
whom Gods spirite did moue
Than blame not myne Iutor
for right well I knowe:
Hys penne is not tempered
vayne doctrine to sowe,
But as Esaye hath bydden
so muste he nedes crye,
And tell the Lordes people
of their iniquitie.
to blame and reproue,
The faultes of all menne
boeth hyghe and lowe:
As the Prophetes dyd
whom Gods spirite did moue
Than blame not myne Iutor
for right well I knowe:
Hys penne is not tempered
vayne doctrine to sowe,
But as Esaye hath bydden
so muste he nedes crye,
And tell the Lordes people
of their iniquitie.
Nowe if I do the worldelinges
in anye poynte offende
In that I reproue them
For their wyckednes:
It is a plaine token
they wyll not emende
I take all the wyse men
of the earth to wytnes,
To them therfore mine Iutor
biddeth me confesse,
That sith they be determined
styll in their synne to dwell:
He accounteth them no better
than fire brandes of hell.
in anye poynte offende
In that I reproue them
For their wyckednes:
It is a plaine token
they wyll not emende
I take all the wyse men
of the earth to wytnes,
biddeth me confesse,
That sith they be determined
styll in their synne to dwell:
He accounteth them no better
than fire brandes of hell.
Wherefore he bade me bid them
holde them contente,
He hath not written to them
that will not emende,
For to the willinge wicked
no prophete shall be sente,
Excepte it be to tell them
that at the laste ende
They shal be sure and certayne
wyth Satanas to wende,
For before suche swyne
no pearles maye be caste,
That in the filthye puddell
take all their repaste,
holde them contente,
He hath not written to them
that will not emende,
For to the willinge wicked
no prophete shall be sente,
Excepte it be to tell them
that at the laste ende
They shal be sure and certayne
wyth Satanas to wende,
For before suche swyne
no pearles maye be caste,
That in the filthye puddell
take all their repaste,
To suche onely therfore
I muste his message do,
As haue not their delite
in wickednes to dwell,
But when they heare their fault
are sorye they dyd so,
And louingely imbrace
suche men as do them tell,
Reformynge euermore
their lyfe by the gospell,
To these men am I sente
and these I truste will take
My warnynge in good parte
and their euill forsake,
I muste his message do,
As haue not their delite
in wickednes to dwell,
are sorye they dyd so,
And louingely imbrace
suche men as do them tell,
Reformynge euermore
their lyfe by the gospell,
To these men am I sente
and these I truste will take
My warnynge in good parte
and their euill forsake,
He that is of God, heareth the worde of God.
John. viii.
Finis,
| One and Thyrtye Epigrammes | |