These Children Orphans singing show,
Though God's above, he dwels below,
Who Clothes their backs and bellies feed,
And gave them fathers in their need.
These father'd fatherless, their Fathers bless,
And warble forth their worth in thankfull verse.
[blazon or coat of arms]
[City of London coat of arms]
THe Epicureans say God takes no care,
Nor yet regardeth how poor mortals fare,
But being himself above all sense
Of trouble, grief, and indigence;
Enjoyes himself, and can,
No notice take of man
Nor sees, nor hears,
Their sighs or tears;
Nor mindes, nor yet condoles, mens joyes or fears.
That the light Lamps of Heaven know their way
And beaten paths, from whence they cannot stray,
The Planets march their wonted pace,
Sun, Moon, and Stars, keep on their race
From night to day, and then,
From day to night agen,
Times come and goe,
Tides ebbe and flow,
Things round redown'd, as days and years do show.
Hold Atheist, stop thy mouth, proceed not thus,
Gods care o'th poor blaspheme not, look on us,
And recollect thy self, for we
On Dunghils droop't in miserie,
Had not Jehovah car'd,
How here poor mortals far'd,
We still had lain,
Pining in pain,
But now in plenty he doth us maintain.
Repent of these thy thoughts vain man, behold
How God by us, have these thy thoughts controld,
For living instances we are,
That God for mortals poor takes care,
And doth regard the cries,
Of Orphans waterie eyes,
And sends relief
From pain and grief,
Who help and succour to the poor doth give.
Wandring we were from Heavens and Earths good waies
In sin and idleness to spend our daies,
But now translated from that state
Which led to lewdness, death, hells gate,
And in a hopefull way
To live another day,
When thankfull we,
Shall surely be,
And Londons mercy keep in memorie.
Blest be the great PROTECTOR of the poore
Whom fatherless admire, widdows adore;
Blest be his
His High­ness a spe­cial friend.
Vice Protector who
Much favour did on us bestow,
Our
Lord Mayor President.
President blest be,
And blest his
John Cut­ler Esq De­puty Presi­dent. Mr Tho­mas Read Treasurer.
Deputy,
Lord blesse them all
Who hence forth shall
Lend hearts, and hands, to ridd the poor from thrall.
God is the poor mans God, who doth express
Himself the Father of the Fatherless,
And men like Gods themselves appear,
To whom poor Fatherless are dear,
Whose works of Charity,
He suffers not to dye,
What thus they spend
To God they lend,
Who will repay with glory in the end.
This is the pure Religion, and this
By Gods appointment leads to lasting bliss;
When Scarlet robes, and Golden chains
Shall come to nothing, this remains,
When creature comforts faile,
Such works as these prevaile,
Most certainly
Such seed shall be
An Harvest lasting to eternity.
You that have thus so well begun, go on,
Finish your work, let no man take your crown,
Such works as these their workmen bless;
By spending thus, you shall increase,
This is Gods way of thriving,
Thus give, and get by giving;
What else you save
Others may have;
These works your selves shall find beyond the grave.

The Report of the Governours of the Corporation for im­ploying and Releiving the Poor of this City of London, and Liberties thereof;

THe said Corporation (through the Pious care and Assistance of the Lord Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of London, and other well affected persons) do at the present maintain, and Educate about 100. poor Children in Learning, and Arts, whose Parents are either dead or not able to maintain them, ayming (according as ability by the good provi­dence of God shall be administred) at the entertaining of some hundreds more; Moreover, there are many hundred of poor people and families imployed by the said Corporation, the Manufactures of Spinning Hemp, Flax, and Tow, and Weaving of it into Cloth; And many hundreds more might be imployed, in case they did not habituate and necessitate themselves to an idle course of life, none being refused or denyed imployment that will come for it, either to the Wardrobe neer Black-fryers, or to Haiden-house in the Minories, belonging to the said Corporation. Towards the more effectuall carrying on and ac­complishing of which good work, so abundantly conducing to the glory of God, the honour of the Government of this City, (being Presidentiall in this kind to the whole Nation) the prevention of many evils and Enormities, so abounding in that sort of people, and the Eternall good of their Precious Souls: This Corporation earnestly desire the ready Concurrence and Assi­stance of the Magistrate, and Ministers of Justice of this City in causing the known Laws of this Common-wealth to be put in Execution 39 Eliz. 4. and 1 Jac. 7. for suppressing of Vagrants, and common Beggars, able to work, who come in troops from the out parts of this City, and make it their constant practice, to spend the day time in Begging, and a great part of the nights in Drinking, and Revelling. And then repair to the City again for fresh supplies, to the great dishonor of this City, the scandall of Religion, and hindrance of the Charity of many Pious and well affected People towards this good work.

Printed by James Flesher, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON, 1655.

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