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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 V.] Whet no Let.
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9

[EMBLEM V.] Whet no Let.

To the Labourious.
The Labour of the rightuous tendeth to life. pro: 10. 16.
Next comes upon our Stage the painful Mower,
Who toils in sun and sweat with all his power,
That he may thereby gain a small supply
For the necessities of 's family.
Early he rises, and to work he goes,
Else cannot be perform'd his task, he knows:
He clears his way of all things that may let;
Yet notwithstanding will take time to whet.
But that time is not lost: he's thereby made
More apt and fit to carry on his Trade:
Quicker and better cuts he then before,
And of his work he rids away much more.
Thus every Christian hath his work set out,
Which in his life-time he must bring about;
That so he may, as here his lot shall fall,
Provide things honest in the sight of all.
Yet must he not so much his gain respect,
As duties (the souls whetstone) to neglect:
For by them we do great refreshment finde,
When they're performed with a heavenly minde.
In Israels Land, all males did thrice a year
Before the Lord at his own place appear;
Yet whilst they thus perform'd the Lords command,
No enemy durst ere invade their Land.