Advyce to Lesom Mirriness
Quhen I haive done considder
This warldis vanitie,
So brukill and sa slidder1210,
Sa full of miserie;
Then I remember me
That heir thair is no rest;
Thairfoir appeirantlie
To be mirrie is best.
Let us be blyth and glaid,
My freindis all, I pray.
To be pensive and sad
Na-thing it help us may.
Thairfoir put quyt away
All heviness of thocht:
Thocht we murne nicht and day
It will availl us nocht.
It will not be our sorrow
That will stoip Godis hand,
To strik baith evin and morrow
Baith on the sie and land.
Sen nane may it gainestand1211
Let us be all content
To underly the wand
Of Godis punischment.
Quhat God pleasis to do
Accept it thankfullie;
Quhat paine he puttis us to
Receive it pacientlie.
And give1212 that we wald be
Releveit of our paine,
For sin ask God mercie,
Offend Him nocht againe.
Give we will mak murning,
Sould be for our offence,
And not that God dois bring
On us for violence,
For ane dyveris pretence;
For some He will puneis
To proive thair patience,
And som for thair great miss1213.
Sen first the warld began
Thair hes bein trubill ay
For punischment of men,
And sall quhill domisday.
And sen we may not stay
Quhat God pleis do us till,
Quhat He will on us lay
Receive it with guid will.
For God will lay som scurge
Quhill that the warld tak end;
Fra sin the warld to purge
Will ay som plaigis send.
Bot quha will lyfe amend,
And preis1214 to sin no moir,
Then God will him defend
Fra everlasting cair.
Yet plainelie I concluide,
Into all wardlieness
Nathing for man sa guide
As lesome1215 mirrines;
For thair is na riches
Sa lang his lyfe can lenthe,
Conserve him fra seiknes,
And keip him in his strenthe.
Thairfoir with trew intent
Let us at God ask grace
Our sines to repent
Quhill we haive tyme and space;
Syne bring us to that place
Quhair joy is evermoir,
And sie God face to face
In His eternall gloir.