10. St. John the Baptist

You mild-mannered Christians do not fear,
For I have stored your prayerful worship here.
For by the same you shall be glad to know,
How base the cause of all your grief and woe.

We have a God who sits enthroned above,
Who sent us John the Baptist to prove,
And we, the free and innocent may still,
Rejoice in Christian namesakes by God’s will.

The which transgression of command, He says,
We have cleansed at least in ten thousand ways,
Avouched, for see how men their sins eschew,
As if they do not fear what Christ shall do.

Behold the penitent deserves no blame,
He amends how he blasphemes the name,
Of that good God who gave him life and breath,
And who unbinds him from the chains of death.

The happy little children which we meet,
Amongst the sports and pastimes of the street,
We never hear them curse or swear,
For they have heard the call of our Lord’s prayer.

There’s much to be rejoiced in, I aver,
The same they learn from what they daily hear,
Be careful then, and do instruct them so,
The son of man shall be their overthrow.

Both young and old against blasphemy forbear,
The tongue of man is not made to forswear,
But to praise and adore the blessed name,
Wherefore Emmanuel (God with us) came.

Love is one of seven virtues likewise,
Let us behold why in wonderous disguise,
Ole’ damsels do appear, both rich and poor,
The like was not of any age before.

Why this is the costume which they choose to wear,
Their mask, odor, and how they do their hair,
Likewise, in body art they are arrayed,
As if they would invest what God has made.

Yet they should know for all their age-old charm,
There is a sleeve that’s fit for any arm,
Oh, think of this, and raise your thoughts above,
That Jezebel who was King Ahab’s love.

Likewise, you willful sinners who transgress,
The righteous laws of God by covetous,
You do defend the strangers who were sent,
To partake of nurture and nourishment.

Many conduits do that sin forfend,
And culpably amount to fatal end,
Let not displeasure still grasping the bowl,
Make a salt pillar of your active soul.

Perhaps contrition is not so contrite,
Penitents shall not amend their delight,
In penitentiaries they plenty fall,
But oh! the fright of newbies after all,

Is a disgusting worm upon the mind.
Then, if you would your peace of reason find,
In all conscientiousness learn by deed,
For it’s the only life Mankind can lead.

Be careful that you are not dragged away,
By customers, to break the Sabbath Day,
Be baptized with the sanctity of prayer,
That you may toll the Christian levies there.

For tell me, wherefore should we stop and stare,
At what we eat and drink, and what we wear,
And meanwhile our worthy souls exclude,
In a locality, the Holy Rood.

Yet so it is they, as to free their mind,
Many ole’ greedy gallants seldom find,
The church of God, and scornfully deride,
The sacred word by which they must be tried.

A secret to an entrance, they implore,
And will not allow thrice knocks upon the door,
And incense the spirit of the cold tomb,
And then who knows how dismal is their doom.

Though, for a while perhaps they get by there,
And seem to hear the very thoughts they fear,
Yet when they’re summoned to renounce their death,
They count out thrice-fold to sweeten their breath.

Consider this ole’ gallants whilst you stay,
Swift-winged Love and virtues come what may,
And let it be your mild-mannered care,
To bless the child, and for the lamb prepare.

There is another crying sin, likewise,
Behold, young children open sleepy eyes,
Take exercises, they are like to meet,
In every nook and cranny of the street,

In which they are like captives led,
To their destruction, when it’s time for bed,
Till at length they find themselves out-played,
And for their work, the worst examples, made.

Then, then, perhaps they’ll have no more sins to cry,
With wringing hands, against your company,
Which did betray them to that dismal weight,
Be mindful of this before it gets too late.

Likewise, deprived orphans, far and near,
Honor your christening, and prayers dear,
Let not your strict obedience grieve you so,
Nor cause you to forget that tears may flow.

What a back-breaking sorrow it must be,
To the aged parents when they see,
Their adult-children carrying them on,
Against the wholesome laws of God and Man.

Oh! Let the homily all nations make,
In the breviary all our sins forsake,
For true it is the Lord shall justly bless,
The children who we woefully transgress.

Now, to conclude, both young and old, I say,
Reform your sinful lives this very day,
Then God in mercy may His love extend,
To seven virtues – so, our troubles end.