The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie Edited by James Cranstoun |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | V.
A WALKNING FROM SIN. |
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| VII. |
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| IX. |
| X. |
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 | The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie |  |
V. A WALKNING FROM SIN.
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Since vnadwysment wraks or thou be war,
To call for grace betyms at God begin,
Befor thou folou on the flesh too far.
Throu vnadvertance, oh! hou mony ar
Involvit so vhill out they can not win?
Wald thou be clene? touch nather pick nor tar:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Since vnadwysment wraks or thou be war,
To call for grace betyms at God begin,
Befor thou folou on the flesh too far.
Throu vnadvertance, oh! hou mony ar
Involvit so vhill out they can not win?
Wald thou be clene? touch nather pick nor tar:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
233
As trees hes leafis, then florishis, syn fruit;
So thou hes thoghts, syn words, and actions last.
Thus, grie by grie, sin taks in the sik rute,
Infecting saull and body baith so fast,
To stay repentance till the tyme be past.
Then turne in tym and not so rekles rin,
Or thou thy self in condemnation cast.
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
So thou hes thoghts, syn words, and actions last.
Thus, grie by grie, sin taks in the sik rute,
Infecting saull and body baith so fast,
To stay repentance till the tyme be past.
Then turne in tym and not so rekles rin,
Or thou thy self in condemnation cast.
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Or thou be sommound by vncerten death,
Count with thy conscience; knau if it be cle[ne.]
Defer not to the latter blast of breath,
Sen lait repentance seindle sure is sene.
Then thrau the wand in tyme vhill it is grene;
Sen tym is precious tak it or ȝe tuin.
Sen thou began, look bak vhat thou hes bene:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Count with thy conscience; knau if it be cle[ne.]
Defer not to the latter blast of breath,
Sen lait repentance seindle sure is sene.
Then thrau the wand in tyme vhill it is grene;
Sen tym is precious tak it or ȝe tuin.
Sen thou began, look bak vhat thou hes bene:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Sen death is debt, prepair thee for to pay;
Thou knauis not vhen thy Creditour will crave.
Remember death, and on that dreidfull day
Quhen as thy saull hir sentence sall resave,
Of endles pain or endles joy to haive,
The goatis ar many, thoght the lambis be thin:
Seek thy salvation; be not Satans slaive;
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Thou knauis not vhen thy Creditour will crave.
Remember death, and on that dreidfull day
Quhen as thy saull hir sentence sall resave,
Of endles pain or endles joy to haive,
The goatis ar many, thoght the lambis be thin:
Seek thy salvation; be not Satans slaive;
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Seik, knok, and ask in Faith, with Hope and Love,
And thou sall find, and enter, and obtene.
Obey his blissed bidding from above;
So thou sall purchess proffeit, to, betuene.
Inclyne thyn eiris, and open wp thy ene
To heir and sie; and comfort all thy kin.
Do good; repent; in tym to come abstene:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
And thou sall find, and enter, and obtene.
Obey his blissed bidding from above;
So thou sall purchess proffeit, to, betuene.
Inclyne thyn eiris, and open wp thy ene
To heir and sie; and comfort all thy kin.
Do good; repent; in tym to come abstene:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
234
Thoght Natur force thee to commit offence,
Ȝit it is divelish daylie to delyte
Or perseveir in, onder this pretence,
That Chryst sall be compeld to mak the quyte:
As some will say, “Sen flesh is imperfyte,
God mon forgive, or think his court bot thin.”
These words ar vain—but warrand of the wryt:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Ȝit it is divelish daylie to delyte
Or perseveir in, onder this pretence,
That Chryst sall be compeld to mak the quyte:
As some will say, “Sen flesh is imperfyte,
God mon forgive, or think his court bot thin.”
These words ar vain—but warrand of the wryt:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
| The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie | |