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A book for boys and girls

or, Country Rhimes for Children. By J. B. [John Bunyan]

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 XXX. 
XXX. Upon the Thief.
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XXX. Upon the Thief.

The Thief, when he doth steal, thinks he doth gain;
Yet then the greatest Loss he doth sustain.
Come Thief, tell me thy Gains, but do not falter,
When sum'd what comes it to more than the Halter?
Perhaps, thoul't say, the Halter I defie;
So thou mayst say, yet by the Halter dye.
Thoul't say, then there's an end; no, prethee hold,
He was no Friend of thine that thee so told.
Hear thou the Word of God, that will thee tell,
Without Repentance Thieves must go to Hell.
But should it be as thy false Prophet says,
Yet nought but Loss doth come by Thievish ways:
All honest men will flee thy Company,
Thou liv'st a Rogue, and so a Rogue wilt dye.
Innocent boldness thou hast none at all,
Thy inward thoughts do thee a Villain call.
Sometimes when thou ly'st warmly on thy Bed,
Thou art like one unto the Gallows led.
Fear, as a Constable, breaks in upon thee;
Thou art as if the Town was up to stone thee.

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If Hogs do grunt, or silly Rats do rusle,
Thou art in consternations, think'st a busle
By men about the door is made to take thee:
And all because good Conscience doth forsake thee.
Thy case is most deplorably bad;
Thou shun'st to think on't, lest thou shouldst be mad.
Thou art beset with mischiefs ev'ry way,
The Gallows groaneth for thee ev'ry day.
Wherefore, I prethee Thief, thy Theft forbear,
Consult thy safety, prethee have a care.
If once thy Head be got within the Noose,
'Twill be too late a longer Life to chuse.
As to the Penitent thou readest of,
What's that to them who at Repentance scoff.
Nor is that Grace at thy Command or Pow'r,
That thou shouldst put it off till the last hour.
I prethee Thief think on't, and turn betime;
Few go to Life who do the Gallows clime.