English Puritan & Reformed

A New Years Gift

Robert Crowley (1518-1588) · 1,559 words · 7 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A19662.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

A new years gift, wherein is taught the knowledge of our self and the fear of God. Worthy to be given and thankefullye received of all Christian men.

Imprynted at London bi Robert Crowley dwellinge in The rentes in Holb • rn. The yere of our Lord. M. D. xlix. the last day of December

Autore eodem Roberto Croleo

Cum prunlegio ad imprimendum solum.

To the Christian Reader.

H Ave here (gentle reader) a thing very small

In utter aparaunce (as thou mayest well see)

And yet in effect it containeth all

That Christ in his Gospel requireth of the,

Wherefore as a miroure or glass let it be,

Wherein thou mayest se thine own Image plain,

And have thereby cause thy lust to restrain.

         A
        
        S bread to the hungry is better then gold
       
        And Drincke in out drought, a treasure most hie:
       
        And as the fire pleaseth the man that is cold
       
        So doeth honest knowledge such as be witty.
        
        For such men do fele them selves eased thereby.
       
        And as the mā that doeth a great treasure find
       
        So are they delyted therwyth in their mind.
       
        Intending therefore to give to the wise.
       
        A present of pleasure at this newyets tide
       
        A more pleasant thing. I could not devise
       
        Emonge all the treasure of this world so wyde
       
        To such men as be not pufte (up with pride)
       
        Then for to teach them with words most plain
       
        By what means they might all their vices refrain
       
        First se that ye learn yourself for to know
       
        From whense ye are come,
        
        and whither you shall
       
        And that God will judge as well high as low
       
        When he shall be set on his tribunal.
       
        Not fearing the great, nor sparynge the small
       
        But geueyng to all men of every degree
       
        Accordynglye as theyre doing shall be.
        
        For who so that knoweth himself thoroughly
       
        Shall never be haute nor lofty of mind
       
        But shall be in heart evermore low lie
       
        Confessynge the faults that are in mankind.
       
        The love of him self shall him never blind.
        
        He shall know him self to be but vile dust
       
        Whych knowledge shall cause him to brydle his lust.
       
        If he be a king, a Lord or a knight
       
        And have of his country the chief governance
       
        He shall ever have him self in his sight
       
        When flattering fortune shall him advance.
       
        Hys rentes and his fees he shall not er. haunce
       
        For he shall always have mind of his ende
       
        And study the innocente for to defend.
        
        For why he ne knoweth howe soon he shall go
       
        To dust whense he came as nature doth bind
       
        And certain he is to have endeles woo
       
        If happlye he frame not his heart and his mind
       
        Wyth all his endeuoure to search and to find
       
        The way that shall lede him into endless bliss
       
        Which all men have lost bi that one did amiss
       
        He knoweth not the time,
        
        the manner nor place
       
        Of his going hense, it is so uncertain
       
        Wherefore he will call to God for his grace
       
        To govern the Fancies of his fleshly, brain
       
        That after this life he may live and reign
       
        Wyth the king of all kings, who giveth the same
       
        To all that do ask it in Christ (his sons) name.
        
        In fine, all estates what so ever they be
       
        That do know them self,
        
        & think on their ende
       
        Wyll seek to walk right in their own degree
       
        And all their enormities for to emende.
       
        And that which they seek for, god will them send.
       
        For he of his promise is certain and sure
       
        And will be as longe as this world shall endure.
        
        I areade you therefore this knowledge to get
       
        With all manner haste and expedite speed
       
        Remoueynge all things that may do you let
       
        Leste haplye ye lack it in time of youre need
       
        And compt yourself corn when you be but vile wede
       
        Or else to be branches of Christ the true vine
       
        When your fruit is apt to make no good wyne.
       
        Fyrst know y
        
         t
        
        the matter whereof ye do grow
       
        Is more vile in sight then the dirt of the strete.
        
        And when ye be grown up ye do not know howe
       
        Then do ye begin away for to flete
       
        Even as doeth the flood after plētie of wete
        
        And when ye be furnished best to enoure
       
        Then of youre abydynge you are most unsure
       
        Youre norishyng up in youre tender age
       
        Is very paynful, and right daingerous
       
        And whē ye be strong, then gin you to rage
       
        And to follow manners voluptuous
       
        Not one emonge twenty is found desirous
       
        To furnish him self with manners upright
       
        And to be found honest in every manes sight
       
        Yea where have we one that doeth him apply
       
        To any good thing by his own accord?
        
        Wythoute chastismente we do nothing pardie
       
        Tyll we be out of the reach of the rod
       
        Except special grace be given us of god
       
        To brydle our lust and our fleshly will
       
        Which can of itself do nothing but ill
       
        And when we be come to our own governance
       
        Then either we endeuoure right shortli to clime
       
        Or else do we give up our self to pastaunce
       
        And in Idleness consume all our time
       
        As though Idleness were not a foul cryine.
        
        And for to misspend that god hath us sent
       
        Dyd not at godes hand, deserve punishment
       
        Now when we wax old and draw to our ende.
       
        Then entereth Avarice into our heart
       
        And causeth that when we ought chiefli to emende
       
        We are given wholi to the contratie parte
       
        No promise nor threatnynge can us convert
       
        Vnles the lord god do draw us bi his grace
       
        Forgeueinge our sins and our wicked tresp
        
         •
        
        se.
       
        Thus see ye howe vile, howe k
        
         •
        
        e
        
         •
        
        ke and how wild
       
        Howe wyckedly bente, and howe abominable
       
        How hard to emende, and eke how detyl
        
         •
        
        e.
       
        Ye are, and in all points how miserable,
       
        Howe in your desires insatiable
       
        And how of yourself ye be worst in the ende
       
        When reason would rather that ye should emende
       
        Consyder therefore yourself in this glass
       
        And let not youre Image go out of your sight
       
        And then I ne doubt it will come well to pass
       
        That you shall endeavor to walk still upright
       
        And in the Lord's law to set your delight
        
        So that by his grace ye shall never blinne
       
        To call for his mercy and repent youre sin
       
        Thys done, you must learn that god is your judge
       
        Who judgeth all men wythouten respect.
        
        He is not a frayde of youre arms huge
       
        Nor of the strong fortes that you do erecte.
       
        He is ever able such things too deiecte.
       
        And will whē he lusteth beat down to the ground
       
        All such mighty things,
        
        wherso they be found
       
        He feared not Cain that killed Abel
       
        No more did he spare poor Lamech the blind
       
        Stoute Nemroth also that builded Babel,
        
        In parte of his plages was nothing behind:
        
        The fylthie Sodom’s did small favor find
       
        Ryght so did in Egypt the king Pharaoh,
        
        And Nabuchodonozer with other moe.
        
        What should I rehearse howe in wilderness
        
        He plagued his people that oft did repine
       
        And how afterward for unthankfulness
       
        They planted the vines & drank not the wyne
       
        Suche is the power of the Godhead divine
       
        Wherefore I advise you for to repent.
       
        Before he do come to sit in judgment.
       
        For when he is set, he will judge you righte
       
        It is thē to late for mercy to crave
       
        And in no place can you be out of his sight
       
        For he seeth the corners of every cave
       
        To him lieth open both hell and the grave.
        
        Wherefore while you may do there upon think
       
        And let the lords fear into your hearts syncke.
       
        Embrace the lords fear: for thereof doth springe
       
        The rote of all wisdom,
        
        as David doeth say
       
        And if ye lack that then know ye nothing
       
        Belongynge unto the heavenly way.
       
        For upon gods fear all knowledge must stay
       
        Else must it needs be reproved as vain
       
        Because it proceedeth of manes Idle brain.
       
        But knowledge y
        
         t
        
        doeth spring out of the Lord's fear
       
        Is evermore constante, certain and sure
       
        And causeth eche man his cross for to bear
       
        And in all his trouble for to endure
       
        It causeth a man to have little pleasure,
       
        In any thing that doeth upon the earth lie
       
        And to seek his comfort in heaven on hie.
       
        God's fear teacheth as to seek for his will
       
        And eke for to frame our life to the same
       
        Ryght so doeth it teache us to do no man ill
       
        In hurtinge his person or staineynge his fame
       
        It teacheth us to lead a life without blame.
       
        And to do our best to profit all mē
       
        With all the gifts that God hath to us given.
       
        Thus knowing myself, and fearinge the Lord
       
        I wish to all men a lucky new yere,
       
        And grace for to seek after peace and concord
       
        That the love of Christ may in them appear
       
        And that banketting in spiritual there
       
        They may all their faults espy d
        
         ••…
        
        em ende
       
        Before the twelve months be come to an ende.

Finis.