Infallible Tokens Of Predestation Vnto Saluation. Poem by Henry Arthington

He that doth looke to raigne with Christ,
In euerlasting blessednesse,
Must take great care that he persist,
In these degrees of holinesse.

The first, He must lament his sin,
Whereby he hath offended God,
And seeke to come no more therein,
Least he correct him with his rod,

The second, He must loue Gods house,
To learne his dutie willingly,
And thither often take his course,
To worship God vnfainedly.

The third, He must set his delight,
To heare and read Gods holy word,
And often meditate on it,
His goodnesse daily to record.

The fourth, He must remember well,
VVhat is contrary to Gods will,
To shunne that way which leads to Hell,
And pray for grace against all ill.

The fift, He must the truth professe,
And practise it accordingly,
That words and workes may both expresse,
He holdeth with the verity.

The sixt, He must do no man wrong,
For no respect in any case,
Nor any that to him belong,
But make amends (if he trespasse)

The seauenth: He must be ready prest,
To put vp wrongs at others hands,
And pray for them, (as for the rest)
To rid them out of Sathans bands.

The eight, He must be doing good,
Yea rich in good workes day by day,
To help the hungry vnto food,
And further learning all he may.

The ninth: He must dispose himselfe,
To leaue the pleasures of this life,
And greedy seeking worthy pelfe,
Which worketh woe and endlesse strife.

The tenth: He must with patience,
Prepare himselfe to beare Christs Crosse,
Or any scourge for his offence,
Which in the end will gaine the losse.

The eleuenth; He must prouide for death,
(As if his bed should be his graue.)
To liue in peace, whilst he hath breath,
That after Christ his soule may saue.

The twelft, He must in all distresse,
Of sicknesse, paine, or punishment,
Then, hope for Christ his blessednesse,
VVhich aye shall last, when life is spent.

The thirteenth, He must often pray.
That Sathans Kingdome may surcease,
And Christ his glory euery way,
May daily more and more increase.

The fourteenth, He must euer long,
To be with Christ in his sweete blisse,
To sing that endlesse ioyfull song,
All praise to him, whose right it is.

The more that any mortall wight,
VVith these good graces doth abound,
The deerer he is in Gods sight,
And so for euer shall be found.