%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A Lesson for all True CHRISTIANS. / [?] being well observed by old and young, / [p]ractised with hand, and heart, and tongue: / Great comfort in it at the last you'll find, / Then mark it well, and bear it in your mind. C., J. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1694-1703 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 08/30/2007 21028

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

3.32v R30958 1 The Letter for a Christian Family The Letter for a Christian Family [Al]l you whose minds be high & heavenly bent, / Observe Gods laws, and strive for to repent[,] imprint unclear: Printed for A. M. W. O. and T. [T] [hackeray] / the Angel in Duck-lane, [?]; hinged broadsheet with recto: "Loves Victory Obtained: / OR: / A pleasant sportful joyful meeting, between a young-man and his sweeting, " (see Pepys 3.32r). Pepys 3.32v C59[B] Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 32 A Lesson for all True CHRISTIANS. / [?] being well observed by old and young, / [p]ractised with hand, and heart, and tongue: / Great comfort in it at the last you'll find, / Then mark it well, and bear it in your mind. A Lesson for all True CHRISTIANS. [Which] being well observed by old and young, [And] practised with hand, heart, and tongue: Great comfort in it at last you'll find, Then mark it well, and bear it in your mind. A Lesson for All True Christians. Which Being Well Observed by Old and Young, and Practised With Hand, Heart, and Tongue: Great Comfort in It at Last You'll Find, Then Mark It Well, and Bear It in Your Mind. C., J. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, hinged and folded, 215 x 297 cropped left and right edges, damaged surface including manuscript black ink crossing out mark across text, uneven inking, recto shows through horizontal and vertical rules, alphabetical acrostic in roman display-face capitals 1694-1703 Printed for A. M. W. O. and T. [T][hackeray] / the Angel in Duck-lane, [?] A. M., W. O., T. Thackeray Blagden

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 8/30/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Love Pleasant advice religiousconcepts virtue 08/30/2007 Checker Patrick Ludolph transcription and metadata checked, xml created 07/26/2006 Transcriber Summer Star Original Transcription 08/19/2004 Bibliographer Simone Chess Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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ALl you whose minds be high & heavenly bent, Observe Gods laws, and strive for to repent, [Bear] thou in mind these lines I shall unfold [And pr]ize them better far than pearl or gold. [BEar] thou in mind that Christ dy'd for thy sin Upon the Cross, thy precious soul to win; [Be fre]quent still in reading of his word, [which]cuts down sin as with a 2 edg'd sword. [CO]nsider well the bitter pains & death, Our Savious Christ hath suffered on the earth, [Unto t]he Cross they nail'd his hands and feet, [So for our s]ins he shed his blood most sweet.
DEfer no time, but pray continually, Thy sins against the still for Vengeance cry: Pray to the Lord thy sins may be forgiven, And that thy soul may live with Christ in heaven. ETernal God if it be thy blessed will, Comfort all those that now are sick or ill, By Land or Sea relieve them of their pain, Restore them to their former health again. FOrbear to swear you children that are young, You parents pray correct them for their wrong And bring them up in fear to serve the Lord, For fear he scourge them with his heavy Rod.
GReat oaths in vain too many people swear, The Lord in pieces willfully they tear: Strange imprecations they too common use, with such delights they do themselves abuse. HOw many false reports abroad do flie, People likewise are givin much to lie: Likewise dissemble so with one another, We cannot tell how for to trust our Brothe[r] IN many places people sudden dye, Others again sore sick in bed do lye, Lord give them grace in time for to repent, And so their grievous sins for to lament. KEep thou in mind & Judgement day will come, When thou shalt answer for what thou hast done, Whilst thou remainest here on the earth Therefore prepare thee for the hour of death. LEt not malicious thoughts possess thy breast, Nor wicked actions in thy conscience rest; In any case do not thy Neighbour wrong, Neither by thought, word, deed, nor yet by tongue. MAny there be that follow drunkenness, And make themselves far worse then any beast, And many when that they should go to Church Do in an Ale-house or a Tavern lurch. NOr do they heed, but spend their means in vain, Which shou'd their wives & children maintain Until they have consum'd their whole estate, And ne'r repent before it be too late, OThers there be likewise doth rob and kill, And many a man and womans blood do spill; For money to maintain their grievous sin, And think not on the errors they run in. PIty it is they have no better care, But bring their souls and bodies in a snare; Their bodies here to dye in woful shame, Their souls to suffer in eternal flame. QUere thou after Gods word which is so pure Also the Gospel which will still indure; Seek thou the place whereas thy soul may rest Amongst the Angels whom the Lord hath blest.
REgard not thou the sin of covet[ousness] Seek for to right the [widdow and fatherless;] Help to relieve those that in prison ly[e] Also remember man that thou must [dye]. SEt not thy mind upon Adultery, But from the beauty of lewd wo[en flye;] We find in Scripture that it is forb[id;] Then mind it well when as you do [it read.] TAke heed that you do not false m[easures use,] With such deceit do not thy s[self abuse,] Too many use it now, the more's t[he pitty] In every place, in Country, Town, [and City]. UNdone are many by this false d[eceit,] Let me advise such people, an[d intreat,] To leave it off, and mark what I shal[l say] 'Twill rise against them at the Judg[ement day[?]] WHen thou before thy maker shal[t appear [?]] To give account, and eke thy [self to clear,] If well thou'st done, then happy shal[t thou be[?]] And live with Christ in joy eternally. XAmple take I pray both old and [young,] By those few lines that's penne[d in this song[?]] Bear it in your mind I pray now eve[ry one,] And think on it when I am dead and [gone.] YOung-men & maidens love your [parents dear] Honour them still, and seek the [Lord to fear] O mind your Bibles more then all yo[ur pride] And then be sure the Lord will be you[r guide] ZEalous and faithful to each other [prove,] Live not in hatred, but in perfe[ct love,] Peace is a vertue passeth gold so pur[e] Lord grant it may amongst us still end[ure]. & Now at last for to conclude and e[nd] These lines to all true Christians [I do send,] To read them o're, and of them take a [veiw,] What here's pen'd you'l find for to be [true.]
Printed for A. M. W. O. and T. T[?] the Angel in Duck-Lane, [?]