103 — ¶ Posies for Thine Owne Bed Chamber
1
What wisdom more, what better life, than pleseth God to send?
what worldly goods, what longer vse, than pleseth God to lend?
2
What better fare than well content, agréeing with thy wealth?1
what better gest, than trustie friend, in sicknes and in health?
3
What better bed than conscience good,2 to passe the night with sléepe?
what better worke than daily care fro sinne thy selfe to kéepe?
4
What better thought, than think on God and daily him to serue?
What better gift than to the poore that ready be to sterue?
5
What greater praise of God and man, than mercie for to shew?3
who merciles shall mercie finde, that mercie shewes to few?
6
What worse despaire, than loth to die for feare to go to hell?
what greater faith than trust in God, through Christ in heauen to dwell?
3
——than hatred to forsake
What merciles shall mercy get, that mercy none will take. 1577.
[1573 M.].
Notes
1 what mirth to godly welth. 1577.
2 quiet rest. 1577.