[2]
THE VANITY OF PRIDE.
MY friends, I've liv'd among you many years,
Mind my words, attend and you shall hear,
For times they grow worse in Britain every ⟨day⟩,
If you'll the reason hear you'll say, Well they may.
Here’s all kind of wickedness doth rule and reign,
Which in short time will prove our dreadful bane,
Tho' God in mercy does a while forbear to frown,
And on us ⟨pour⟩ his angry vengeance down.
Young men & maids good counsel don't despise,
But have the fear of God before your eyes,
While here you flourish in your blooming youth,
Let your delight be in the word of truth.
O let it be your constant rule and guide,
To strive to shun that heinous sin of pride,
On which so many thousands spend their store,
Who scarce will give one farthing to the poor.
By sad experience, this I can boldly say,
Some people they do study night and day,
On what to eat, and drink, and what to wear,
But of their precious souls take little care.
The sin of drunkenness too much is used,
By which God’s creatures they are much abused,
For when a man is in a drunken fit,
He values not what sin he does commit.
The sin of swearing is so common grown,
The like in former times was never known,
For if some people do at variance fall,
Immediately they'll for damnation call.
