Classic Poem

The best trade. July 10 72

Wouldst thou my soull, be very rich
A constant beger thou must be
This is the only way by which
Great riches, shall flow into thee
take up this holy trade
and thou'rt for ever made

Necessity it cannot blush
It knows no shame-face'd modesty
It will into gods presence rush
It cannot. will not., be put by
if get to speak it may
it will not, be said nay

True poverty, it doth lay claim
Unto the riches others have
Necessity will make the lame
to run, to cry, & loudly crave
It will not be abash'd
or out of count'nance dashs'd

A sence of want, will teach thee skill
this trade of beging, for to drive
Which will thy coffers, surely fill
And make thee, sudenly to thrive
This trade is ne're in vain
but brings in ceirtain gain

Begers doe often goe away
From rich men cause they will not give
Thy god he will not say thee nay
But still is ready to releive
from his rich store he doth
most willingly, give forth

Some others they ar willing to
Give, but they have not wherwithall
But god is able for to doe
All that, for which on him wee call
our wants he can suply
and that abundantly

The oftener we, to others come
The sooner, weary they doe grow
Their cisterns, cannot always run
But this fountain doth ever flow
the more on him, we grow
the more, he will bestow

This trade of beging is an art
The which, I cant my self come by
This skill to me, doe thou impart
And give, me wisdome from on high
Oh let thy spirit teach
that I may come to reach

Faiths, subtle, quik, dexterity
To wrastle with omnipotence
And pull down blessings from on high
with fervant, holy violence
Resovlving were to rest
till filled with the best

Let me, with thee, by faith so strive
that greater skill I may atain
And come to love, this trade to drive
From sweet experience of its gain
Such faith, on me bestow
that I may quikly grow

To such a vast, encrease in grace
Thriving amain, and growing high
That I may, swiftly run my race
and drop into eternity
Where I shall ever be
with him I long to see.