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Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical

Expressed in Sculpture, and Applied to the several Ages, Occasions, and Conditions of the Life of Man. By a person of Quality

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EMBLEM XXIV. The Impotent Begger.
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47

EMBLEM XXIV. The Impotent Begger.

To the helpless. The Impotent Beggar
Of sturdy Beggers we have too great store
In Town and Country pass from door to door,
Who by their sloth themselves do Beggers make,
That begging for a trade they up may take.
But here behold a Begger poor indeed,
Who nothing can supply to help his need:
Nor hands nor feet to him can succour give,
And therefore he must beg, or else not live.
We all should Beggers be at throne of grace,
With lift-up hands, and with erected face;
And God has promis'd them that his Name fear,
That he in every Nation will them hear.
Nothing have we whereon we may rely;
None of our best deeds will us justifie:
Therefore if meerly on our selves we trust,
Without all remedy we perish must.
But so much grace doth God vouchsafe to all
The faithful, that he'll hear before they call:
Let us therefore in faith to him apply,
Who none upbraids, but giveth liberally.
He setteth none to drive us from his gates,
But us invites to most delicious cates;
Proclaiming unto every one that will,
That he may come, and freely take his fill.