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| AYME 1 not too hie in things above thy reach, | |
| Be not too foolish in thyne own conceit; | |
| As thou hast wit and worldly wealth at will, | |
| So give Him thankes that shall increase it still. | |
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| Beware of pride, the mother of mishap, | 5 |
| Whose sugred snares will seek thee to entrap; | |
| Be meeke in heart and lowly minded still, | |
| So shalt thou God’s commandments fulfill. | |
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| Cast all thy care upon the Lord, and he | |
| In thy distresse will send to succour thee; | 10 |
| Cease not therefore to serue him eu’ry day, | |
| Who with His blood thy ransome once did pay. | |
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| Driue from thy heart ill thoughts that may offend, | |
| Desire of God his Holy Spirit to send, | |
| Which will direct thy life into such a sort | 15 |
| As thou thereby shall find ioy and comfort. | |
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| Feare to offend his heavenly Maiestie; | |
| Faith doth confirm true loue and loyaltie, | |
| Without which faith, as holy Scriptures say, | |
| No man to heaven can find the perfect way. | 20 |
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| Great is the Lord, and mercifull, doubtlesse, | |
| To those that with true zeale their faults confesse; | |
| But unto those in mischiefe dayly runnes, | |
| He lets alone to taste what after comes. | |
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| Hope in the Lord, on him repose thy trust, | 25 |
| Serue him with feare, whose iudgements are most iust; | |
| Desire of him thy life so to direct, | |
| That to thy soule he may have good respect. | |
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| Iniure no man, but love thine enemie, | |
| Though to thy hurt, yet take it patiently, | 30 |
| And think the Lord, although he suffer long, | |
| When time shall serve will soon revenge thy wrong. | |
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| Keepe thou no ranckor hidden in thine heart, | |
| Remember well the word Christ did impart, | |
| That is, forgive offences ouer-past, | 35 |
| As thou thyself wilt be forgiuen at last. | |
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| Lay not thy treasure up in hoarding sort, | |
| But therewithall thy poore feed and comfort; | |
| If thou cold water giue in Christ his name, | |
| Thrice double cold he will reward the same. | 40 |
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| Misorder not thy selfe in any wise; | |
| In meat and drink let reason still suffice; | |
| Moderate thy mind and keepe thy selfe content, | |
| So shalt thou praise the Lord omnipotent. | |
