Classic Poem

Such honour have all the Lord's saints, that we
Keep this day holy to their memorie;
And reason good, for they examples are
To us in life and death of vertues rare;
For though all virtues in some measure met
In all the saints as lines i'th'center, yet,
Some special grace in every one did dwel,
Wherein each one the other did excel.
Thus Abram for his faith was most renown'd,
Job for his singular patience was crown'd;
Moses for meeknesse did all men surpasse,
Elias for his zeale most famous was
David is for an upright heart commended,
Josias for a tender heart transcended
John the Evangelist for charity,
John the Baptist for austerity;
Saint Paul for his humility surmounted
When chief of sinners he himself accounted,
And least of all th' apostles, though indeed
For pains and parts he did the rest exceed;
Peter for penitence the prize doth bear,
Who for his sinne shed many a bitter teare.
Now as their life to us serves for a light,
So is their death most precious in God's sight,
By that we learn to live, by this to die,
By both we come to immortality.
Since then they are such happy guides, wel may
We solemnize at least one annual day
Unto their honour, yet not guiltie be
Of superstition or idolatry.
When we observe this day, we do no more
Then reverence them as saints, not them adore.
God's the sole object of our invocation,
They but the pattern for our imitation;
And 'tis our prayer alwaies on this day,
That we their godly living follow may,
Til we with them at last come to partake
Of joyes unspeakeable for Christ, His sake;
Whiles thus we celebrate this festival,
None can us justly superstitious cal.