MAN'S CREATION AND FALL
At first, when all things formed were,
And Man was for'd at last,
GOD have him wisdom to govern
And rule o'er ev'ry beast.
To ev'ry living creature, he
Did give it's proper name;
So that, they might man's voice obey,
And tremble at the same.
When Adam all the creatures nam'd,
Amongst them were not found
A help or friend, who he could love,
Till GOD made him sleep sound.
GOD took a rib from Adam's side,
And clos'd up flesh and skin;
A help to Adam GOD did make,
That he did like full keen.
They in a garden then were plac'd;
Eden they did it call;
The Tree of Knowledge both did eat,
Which made us sinfull all.
He little knowledge of Eve had,
Till she usurp'd a pow'r;
At least entic'd him for to eat
Fruits, whose effects were sour.
They fond were of each other, sure,
And meaning to be happy;
But cred'lous Eve, she did believe
The Serpent that spoke pretty.
She, thoughtless, took advice, and eat,
Not dreading any evil;
She little thought the Serpent was
Nought but the subtle Devil.
The bad effects this eating had,
O! it is plainly seen!
We, contrar' to the laws of God,
Have plac'd ourselves most keen!
The laws of God and Nature are
Right easy to obey;
And, were our natures not corrupt,
We from them would not stray;
But what we're bidden, that we'll not
Perform without a grudge;
And what's forbidden, that we'll do,
At least in our heart lodge:
Such inclinations laws to break,
And, if occasion serve,
If we can it a secret keep,
We'll strain ev'ry nerve.
With vigour we will vice pursue,
Wile in a nat'ral state;
And when our passions they do fail,
Some crimes take place as great.
The crimes of childhood men leave off,
And think them silly toys;
Syne they fall in with crimes far worse:
They better had been boys.
There's drinking, whoring, and so on
That by the law's forbidden;
Some prudently those secrets keep,
And from the world they're hidden,
At riper years men those despise,
When passions are grown weak;
They seldom think of those be'ng faults,
Till strength doth lust forsake.
Then av'rice comes, and it will stay
Close by it's friends till death;
Each vice that formerly we had
It us renounced hath.
From what's here said, 'tis plainly seen,
We have no strength nor art,
To keep the law we cannot do
In whole, nor yet in part.
Perfect obedience is requir'd;
There's some think that's not fair,
For to demand such things of us,
While void of strength we are.
But that is what we cannot plead;
Our Sov'reign LORD us made;
And why should mortals challenge him
Who's infinitely good,
And has a right for to command
His creatures to obey
His laws? Though we are weak in hand
None can against him say.