Classic Poem

Ye Youth, who're coming into Life,
And wish to marry well;
Oh! ne'er to an old Woman run,
Your Fortunes for to tell,

How do you think a Hag that's old,
And Lyes to get her Bread,
Can teach you any Heart to win,
Or rightly how to wed?

If Gipfies do to you approach,
Ne'er lend to them an ear;
For, if they do with Devil's call,
Their Counsel we should fear.

Magicians vile, as Scripture-says,
Dealt by their Magic Art;
Their Rods they'd into Serpents turn,
When hard was Pharaoh's Heart.

And thus I read, the Rod of God
Their Rods did all devour;
Tho' evil they could quick perform,
Good was not in their pow'r.

How many do we hear thus say,
When they are gay and young,
They'll have their Fortunes told, merely
To make a piece of fun.

But God will never jest with you,
Consider this, I pray:
Lest you cast Fire-brands and Death,
And Sport your Souls away.

But Sally once was cross and old,
I do remember well;
She kept by her a pack of Cards,
Her Fortune for to tell.

But this sure broke, not made her peace,
How seldom did she pray!
She was too much perplex'd in Mind,
To worship on God's day.

Oh! never to the Plannets run,
Your Fortunes for to know;
For what is God's revealed Will,
The Scriptures plainly show,

And this is his revealed Will,
That we in Christ believe,
The greatest Knowledge that on Earth
A Mortal can receive.

Then don't neglect to read God's Word.
And yet so curious be;
For thus you sport with Life and Death,
Yet don't your ruin see.