pp. 169845 passagespart 1 of 2
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
IF you will walk the way,
IF you will walke the way,
That Christ hath you assigned:
That Christ hath you assignde:
Then learn this little verse,
Then learne this little verse,
Which I have left behind.
Which I haue left behinde.
Be fervent in the truth,
Be feruent in the truth,
Although it bear the blame:
Although it beare the blame:
And eke apply your youth,
To stick unto the same:
To sticke vnto the same:
That when the age is come,
And death beginneth to call?
The truth may be your staff,
The truth may be your staffe,
To stay you up withal.
To stay you vp withall.
And though it bring rebuke,
And though it bryng rebuke,
And cause you kiss the cross:
And cause you kisse the crosse:
Yet is it a reward,
To all that suffer loss.
To all that suffer losse.
For here we do lay out,
For here we doe lay out,
The things that be but vain:
The thinges that be but vayne:
But we are sure to reap,
But we are sure to reape,
The things that do remain.
The thinges that doe remayne.
For all that ye do lose,
Is but a sinful slime:
Is but a sinnefull slime:
And like unto a Rose,
And lyke vnto a Rose,
That tarrieth but a time.
That taryeth but a tyme.
But if ye carry Christ,
And walk the perfect way,
And walke the perfect way,
Ye shall possess the gold,
Ye shall possesse the gold,
That never shall decay.
That neuer shall decay.
And all your fathers goods,
And all your fathers goodes,
Shall be your recompense:
Shalbe your recompense:
If ye confess the word,
If ye confesse the worde,
With double diligence.
Not only for to hear
Not onely for to heare
His pure and perfect word:
His pure and perfite word:
But also to embrace,
The fire and eke the sword.
And if ye keep this path,
And if ye keepe this path,
And do not run a crook,
And do not runne a croke,
Then shall ye meet the man,
Then shall ye meete the man,
