❧ Franklin's Farewell to the World, With his Christian Contrition in Prison, before his Death.  
Farewell vain World whose comforts all are Cares,  
Whose gains are loss, whose liberty are Snares:  
Whose Gold is Dross, whose wisdom is mere folly,  
Whose wealth is woe, whose service is unholly.  
Whose Life is Death, whose joy is Grief and Sadness:  
And all that's in thee is a Map of Madness.  
Who so (like me) long in the world hath been,  
And hath so many alterations seen,  
How some from Greatness fall, some Rise from little,  
How man's foundation slip'ry is and brittle,  
How Transitory things do mount and fall  
At his Great pleasure, that Created all.  
Who so doth note, and bear these things in mind;  
Shall see how Fortunes breathe▪ like wavering wind  
Doth blow up men like bladders with Ambition,  
And cast them headlong down to black Perdition.  
That this is true, the world may plainly see,  
And view a fearful spectacle in me:  
For I that had enough of fading pelf,  
And need not want (except I would myself)  
I that had Sense, Discretion, Reason, Wit,  
And could discern things fitting and unfit,  
I whom my high Creator made a creature,  
Adorning me with gifts of Art, and Nature  
Yet of all this I made no further use  
But Gods, Kings, Countries and my souls abuse.  
From crime to crime still plundging further in,  
With my continual adding sin to sin.  
Till sin on sin, at last brought shame on shame,  
And shame on shame, paid the desert of blame.  
My thoughts surmised th'Almighties eyes were hid,  
And that he saw not, what I secret did,  
But he (whose sight eclipseth Moon and Sun)  
Hath brought to light the deeds in darkness done;  
He in his justice, justly hath revealed  
My heinous faults which I had long concealed:  
He hath laid open my notorious crimes,  
To be a warning to ensuing times;  
That they shall never dare to do the like,  
Lest (like to me) his vengeance them do strike.  
Then let a dying friend good counsel give,  
To all Estates and Sexes how they live:  
Oh let my ending of my loathed breath  
Make all men care, to shun eternal death.  
And though my life hath been polluted foul,  
Yet judge with charity my sinful soul;  
For were the Sins of all the world in me,  
Yet (with the eye of Faith) I clearly see  
That God's great mercy, like a boundless flood  
Through my blessed Saviour and Redeemers blood,  
Hath freely pardoned all that I have done,  
(By th'intercession of his only Son,)  
So that my steadfast faith doth me persuade,  
My peace for ever with my God is made.  
He that Raised Lazarus from out his Grave;  
He that upon the Cross the Thief did save,  
'Tis he alone; and only none but he  
Hath raised me up from Death, and saved me.  
Yea, though I all my life time have lived evil,  
A servant, and a slave unto the Devil:  
Yet here's the joy that makes my courage bold,  
My Saviour Christ hath took me to his fold,  
He, true Repentance unto me hath given,  
And for me (through his merits) purchased Heaven.  
Then World, Flesh, Satan, and grim Death avaunt,  
Do all your worst, my Faith you cannot daunt:  
He, that for me hath conquered Death and Hell,  
Hath granted me that I with him shall dwell.  
And though my life Eternal fire did merit,  
Yet God in mercy hath received my Spirit.  
Farewell my Country, by whose justice I,  
For mine unjust and bloody action die.  
Farewell most Sacred and Renowned King,  
Whose equal judgement through the world doth ring:  
Whose zeal to Right, and whose Impartial hand,  
Are the main prop on which this State doth stand.  
Long may he Reign, in his Maiestick-seate,  
And as on Earth, be made in Heaven more great.  
Let his Posterity, and Royal Race  
Be all Inspired with the supernal Grace:  
And of his seed let us have Always one  
To sway the Sceptre of Great Britain's Throne.  
Defend them Lord from soul and body harms,  
From homebred Traitors, and from foreign Arms.  
That in thy favour they may live and die,  
And die to live with thee Immortally.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Henry Gosson.