The Poor Man put to a Pinch: OR, A DECLARATION of these hard Times. The Times are bad, we all do see, Pray God mend it now, if it may be; Both in Countrey and in Town, Trading is very sore gone down; Which makes great Poverty to be, In City, and in Countrey: And there's little Money to be had, The Times are grown so very bad. To the Tune of, The Description of this Age, or, Aim not to high.
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POor people are over-charged sore with grief,
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And the Aged sort, alass! they are the Chief;
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And many others that has a Charge to maintain,
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God comfort those that has so little gain.
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For Trading's down, and there's little to be got,
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A Poor Man scarcely can get Meat to th' Pot,
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Or Bread to serve his Children in their need;
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To see them want, would make ones Heart to bleed.
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There are many Shop-keepers about the City,
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Has nothing to doe; Alass! the more's the pity.
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What will this World come to! Can any tell?
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It is the Lord that can make all things well.
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There are many lusty people walks up and down,
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There's no Imployment they can have in Town;
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Which makes so many to be so void of Grace,
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That they fall to Wickedness, and so do transgress.
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Pray God again we may see these times to mend,
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And every one to be carefull to the end;
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It is our Sins that causeth all the same,
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Let us fear God, and praise his Holy Name.
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If a Poor Man has a Charge of Children small,
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If he has no work to relieve them therewithall,
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It is a Grief for Parents to endure,
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To see their Children starved with hunger sore.
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Pray God that Trading may be good again,
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And every one that hears now, say Amen;
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That Poor nor Rich may have cause for to complain,
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Let us serve God, and we shall see good Times again.
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But, Alass! alass! the Poor has all the smart,
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There's many are pinched to the very heart:
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Poor Peoples wants has been so very sore
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In many a place, I say amongst the Poor.
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But if Work and Trading do come in again,
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There will be some help for all sorts of Men:
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If Rich Men would but imploy the Poor, I say,
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To Labour for their Living, to give them pay.
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But alass, these Times we see is nothing, so
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They have enough themselves, they feel not the Poor mans Woe.
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The House-Mouse little understands the same,
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What the Field-Mouse endures in Cold and Rain.
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Remember what our Savior Christ did tell,
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To Love one another, and all things will be well:
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But that thing is wanting in this Nation sore,
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Which makes such Misery amongst the Poor.
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But yet, good People, let us be content,
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And Praise the Lord that hath all things to us sent;
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He in good time for us will take a care,
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When he is pleased we shall have better share.
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The Times again I hope will better be,
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Amongst us all, we then may live to see:
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In the mean time let's have a special care,
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That by no means we fall into despair.
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Now to all People that do's live but poor,
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God in his Goodness with encrease their store:
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He evermore will stand the Poor Man's friend,
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If we but serve the Lord unto the end.
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Now at the last, let's ever mind that thing,
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For to fear God, and honour our good King;
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That God may keep this Nation still in Peace,
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Then Trading and Plenty will with us increase.
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