Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
XCI
Thus from your selves unto your selves
your duties all do tend:
And as self-love the wheels do move,
so in self-love they end.
Thus Ch [. . .] ist detects their vain projects,
and close impiety,
And plainly shews that all their shows
were but hypocrisie.
XCII
Then were brought nigh a company
of [. . .] ivil honest men,
That lov’d true dealing, and hated stealing,
[. . .] e wrong’d their brethren:
Who pleaded thus, Thou knowest us
that we were blamele [. . .] s livers;
No whore-mongers, no murderers,
no quarrellers nor strivers.
XCIII
Idolaters, Adulterers,
Church-robbers we were none;
Nor false dealers, nor couzeners,
but paid each man his own.
Our way was fair, our dealing square,
we were no wastful spenders,
No lewd toss-pots, no drunken sots,
no scandalous oenders.
XCIV
We hated vice, and set great price
by vertuous conversation:
And by the same we got a name,
and no small commendation.
God’s Laws express that righteousness
is that which he doth prize;
And to obey, as he doth say,
is more then sacrice.
XCV
Thus to obey, hath been our way;
let our good deeds, we pray,
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