❧Franklins Farewell to the World, With his Christian Contrition in Prison, before his Death.
FArwell vaine World whose comforts all are Cares,
Whose gaines are losse, whose liberty are Snares:
Whose Gold is Drosse, whose wisedome is meere folly,
Whose wealth is woe, whose seruice is vnholly.
Whose Life is Death, whose Ioy is Griefe and Sadnes:
And all that's in thee is a Map of Madnes.
Who so (like me) long in the world hath beene,
And hath so many alterations seene,
How some from Greatnes fall, some Rise from little,
How mans foundation slip'ry is and brittle,
How Transitory things doe mount and fall
At his Great pleasure, that Created all.
Who so doth note, and beare these things in minde;
Shall see how Fortunes breath▪ like wau'ring winde
Doth blow vp men like bladders with Ambition,
And cast them headlong downe to black Perdition.
That this is true, the world may plainly see,
And view a fearefull spectacle in mee:
For I that had enough of fading pelfe,
And need not want (except I would my selfe)
I that had Sence, Discretion, Reason, VVit,
And could discerne things fitting and vnfit,
I whom my high Creator made a creature,
Adorning me with guifts of Art, and Nature
Yet of all this I made no further vse
But Gods, Kings, Countryes and my soules abuse.
From crime to crime still plundging further in,
With my continuall adding sinne to sinne.
Till sinne on sinne, at last brought shame on shame,
And shame on shame, paid the desert of blame.
My thoughts surmis'd th'Almighties eyes were hid,
And that he saw not, what I secret did,
But he (whose sight eclipseth Moone and Sun)
Hath brought to light the deeds in darknes done;
He in his Iustice, Iustly hath reueal'd
My hainous faults which I had long conceal'd:
He hath laid open my notorious crimes,
To bee a warning to ensuing times;
That they shall neuer dare to doe the like,
Least (like to me) his vengeance them doe strike.
Then let a dying friend good counsell giue,
To all Estates and Sexes how they liue:
Oh let my ending of my loathed breath
Make all men care, to shun eternall death.
And though my life hath bin polluted foule,
Yet Iudge with charity my sinfull soule;
For were the Sinnes of all the world in me,
Yet (with the eye of Faith) I cleerely see
That Gods great mercy, like a boundles flood
Through my blest Sauiour and Redeemers blood,
Hath freely pardon'd all that I haue done,
(By th'intercession of his onely Sonne,)
So that my stedfast faith doth me perswade,
My peace for euer with my God is made.
Hee that Raisd
Lazarus from out his Graue;
He that vpon the Crosse the Theife did saue,
'Tis he alone; and onely none but hee
Hath raisd me vp from Death, and saued me.
Yea, though I all my life time haue liu'd euill,
A seruant, and a slaue vnto the Deuill:
Yet heer's the Ioy that makes my courage bolde,
My Sauiour Christ hath tooke me to his folde,
Hee, true Repentance vnto me hath giu'n,
And for me (through his merits) purchas'd Heau'n.
Then World, Flesh, Sathan, and grim Death auaunt,
Doe all your worst, my Faith you cannot daunt:
He, that for me hath conquer'd Death and Hell,
Hath granted me that I with him shall dwell.
And though my life Eternall fire did merit,
Yet God in mercy hath receiu'd my Spirit.
Farwell my Countrey, by whose Iustice I,
For mine vniust and bloody action dye.
Farewell most Sacred and Renowned King,
Whose equall Iudgement through the world doth ring:
Whose zeale to Right, and whose Impartiall hand,
Are the maine prop on which this State doth stand.
Long may he Raigne, in his Maiestick-seate,
And as on Earth, bee made in Heau'n more great.
Let his Posterity, and Royall Race
Be all Inspir'd with the supernall Grace:
And of his seed let vs haue Alwaies one
To sway the Scepter of Great Britaines Throne.
Defend them Lord from soule and body harmes,
From home-bred Traytors, and from Foreigne Armes.
That in thy fauour they may liue and dye,
And dye to liue with thee Immortally.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Henry Gosson.