{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/wikisource_Vanity_of_pride_Vanity_of_Pride/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/wikisource_Vanity_of_pride_Vanity_of_Pride","id":"wikisource_Vanity_of_pride_Vanity_of_Pride","license":"Public Domain / CC-BY-SA (see source)","rights_basis":"wikisource_site_inclusion_policy","source":"wikisource","source_url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Vanity_of_pride/Vanity_of_Pride","summary":null,"tags":["Chapbooks","Religion","Scottish_poetry","Subpages","Works_using_categories_parameter","Works_with_reconstructed_words_or_phrases"],"text":"THE VANITY OF PRIDE.\n\nMY friends, I've liv'd among you many years,\n\nMind my words, attend and you shall hear,\n\nFor times they grow worse in Britain every day,\n\nIf you'll the reason hear you'll say, Well they may.\n\nHere\u2019s all kind of wickedness doth rule and reign,\n\nWhich in short time will prove our dreadful bane,\n\nTho' God in mercy does a while forbear to frown,\n\nAnd on us pour his angry vengeance down.\n\nYoung men & maids good counsel don't despise,\n\nBut have the fear of God before your eyes,\n\nWhile here you flourish in your blooming youth,\n\nLet your delight be in the word of truth.\n\nO let it be your constant rule and guide,\n\nTo strive to shun that heinous sin of pride,\n\nOn which so many thousands spend their store,\n\nWho scarce will give one farthing to the poor.\n\nBy sad experience, this I can boldly say,\n\nSome people they do study night and day,\n\nOn what to eat, and drink, and what to wear,\n\nBut of their precious souls take little care.\n\nThe sin of drunkenness too much is used,\n\nBy which God\u2019s creatures they are much abused,\n\nFor when a man is in a drunken fit,\n\nHe values not what sin he does commit.\n\nThe sin of swearing is so common grown,\n\nThe like in former times was never known,\n\nFor if some people do at variance fall,\n\nImmediately they'll for damnation call.\n\nThe paths of whoredom pray at all times shun,\n\nAnd from the company of harlots run,\n\nFor they like painted snakes appear in view,\n\nTo sting your precious souls and bodies too.\n\nIf by Providence you to riches do rise,\n\nWhy then be careful that you don't despise,\n\nYour parents dear when they are in distress,\n\nFor those that do, the Lord will never bless.\n\nHow many thousands do the Day profane!\n\nSome seeking after most ungodly gain;\n\nOthers in pleasure are passing the time away,\n\nAnd quite neglect the duty of the Day.\n\nTaverns and ale-houses they most frequent,\n\nAnd there, alas! much precious time is spent,\n\nThe fields are full, the churches are but thin,\n\nAs if that Day were set apart for sin.\n\nHow can we think that God will ever bless,\n\nOur native kingdom here with good success,\n\nOr that he'll ever prosper us in this war,\n\nThat is begun and carried on so far.\n\nO! may we now reform our lives with speed,\n\nAnd be good Christians both in word and deed;\n\nO! clean your hearts from all malice and strife,\n\nAnd seek the paths of everlasting life.\n\nIf poverty with thee should pitch her tent,\n\nDo you then learn therewith to be content,\n\nFor he who gives, from us can take away,\n\nAnd can restore't to us another day.\n\nSo make your peace with God while time you have,\n\nFor there is no repentance in the grave;\n\nSound this alarm often in thine ear,\n\nShortly to judgement we must all appear.","title":"Vanity of pride/Vanity of Pride","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":497}