The Castell of Courtesie Whereunto is adioyned The Holde of Humilitie: With the Chariot of Chastitie thereunto annexed. Also a Dialogue betweene Age and Youth, and other matters herein conteined. By Iames Yates |
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A Prayse of Iust Dealing.
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 | The Castell of Courtesie |  |
A Prayse of Iust Dealing.
To liue in worlde and not deale iust,a heynous faulte it is:
A crime which God doth not allowe
to come in seate of blisse.
For why? to liue Deceiptfully
is lothsome in the sight,
Of sacred God that sits on high
as Iudge of. Prudent might
Be iust in all thy dealings sure,
so shalt thou purchase Fame:
And win the praise of euery wight,
as worthie is the same.
For dealing iust doth carry laude
in thought of honest minde:
And lauding iust wilbe allowed,
as trueth hath it assign'd.
Preace not among Deceiptfull mates
thy honest name to loose:
No leape thou yet in daungerous place
least thou thy selfe doth broose.
But leape vpright, and swarue thou not
ne leane no more then iust:
For if thou wrongfully be spied
deceiptfully to thrust:
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not comming in the place:
Where as iust dealing doth abide,
but rooted out of race.
In dealing iust thy doings shall,
so prosper and vphold:
As all the world will lende thee praise,
on it thou maist be bolde.
And God will blesse thee in the same,
and furtherance thee send:
For who so iustly seemes to deale,
doth neuer God offend.
For why, the iust and honest man,
his handes are clasped still:
He takes no bribes for to make good,
a matter which is ill.
He saith, if bribes that I should take,
I do not then deale iust:
I do offend my maker sore,
of truth confesse I must.
I shall be call'd vnto accounte,
before the liuing God:
Who dealeth as we giue desert,
his dealing is not odde.
And if I wretch haue not dealt iust,
what answere shall I make:
Oh how can I excuse my selfe,
but fault vpon me take.
Thus saith the iust and honest man,
thus pondereth he in mind:
Thus must it be and thus it is,
so God hath it assign'd.
And since by him commaundment is,
no lucer for to take:
My handes they shall be clasped so,
vniust life none to make.
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lo thus iust dealing sayes:
Although that I derided be,
of those that vse those wayes.
I do defy them with my hearte,
they shall not lodge with me:
But be accounted as they are,
for ought that I can see.
The righteouse man doth them exclude,
and puttes them out of minde:
He doth eschewe their company,
he forceth not their kinde.
He saith I am as ill as they,
if I vphold their state:
Wherefore with willing heart I sweare,
O Lord I them do hate.
God let me neuer liue (saith he,)
vniustly for to deale:
But graunt me grace for iustnesse I
may vnto thee appeale.
And when I shall yelde vp my life.
a iust account to make:
How that with iustice I haue dealt
all briberie to forsake.
For doubt we not, our heauenly God
hath mercy still in store:
And hath aboundance to supply,
our want though it were more.
But God forbid we should presume,
vpon fond hope in vaine:
It is the way to purchase hell,
remission none to gaine.
For he that sinneth still in hope,
offendes the holy ghost:
And he that doth offend that God,
shall vengeance feele with most.
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as Scripture doth declare:
Is more offensiue then the rest:
So Paul doth witnesse beare.
Wherefore God graunt we not offend,
in no respect with will:
But with a hearte vnfaynedly
aske pardon for it still.
And craue of God, with faithfull hearte,
his mercy may vs guyde:
That when our life shall yelde to death,
we may with him abide.
And there to laude thy name with praise,
which euer shall endure:
Graunt this O Lord for Christ his sake,
whose bloud made vs all pure.
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