A Treatyce Of Moral Philosophy: The Fourth Booke Entituled Of Mentall Powers Or Vertues. Poem by William Baldwin

The summe of all. Vertue in all woorkes is chieflie to be praised

Vertue in all woorkes is chieflie to be praised,
as the bedde fountaine and iewel most precious.
By vertue friendship and loue is purchased.
Vertue is a garment moste comely and curious.
to obtaine vertue therefore be studious.
For he that loueth vice and doth vertue deteste
may well be compared to a lothsome beaste.

The summe of all. VVisedome the most high and diuine estate

VVisedome the most high and diuine estate,
the roote of all noble and laudable thinges:
the great guift of god, most sweete & delicate:
the tree of all pleasure, that in the heart springes,
whose deare and daintie fruit the tonge forth bringes.
and thei that to wisedome, themselues woulde applye,
must diligently haunt wyse mens companye.

The summe of all. Faith is a stedfastnes and truth of thinges

Faith is a stedfastnes and truth of thinges,
spoken and couenaunted of god or man,
a right faith in god, with it alway bringes
inuincible power, that mightily can
withstand the assaultes of cruell sathan,
for he that is faithfull and true in al thing,
hath mightier seruauntes then lord or king.

The summe of all. In this life of loue, there are two kindes

In this life of loue, there are two kindes
that draweth men, to ioy or payne,
on filthy loue, some set theire mindes,
and godly loue some men retaine:
the wicked do count such loue but vayne,
But Gods heauenly loue, and charitie,
purchaseth euerlasting felicitie.

The summe of all. Pacience is a vertue both noble and necessary

Pacience is a vertue both noble and necessary,
appertaining to the inward and exteriour gouernance
pacience is a vanquishour of approued iniury,
a sure rocke of defence, against all disturbaunce.
this vertue therfore to obtaine, geue diligent attendance
by it, thinges thou shalt learne it to thy cofort in distres
an vpright conscience & constant esteming of goodnes.

The summe of all. praier is the moste holy and diuine sacrifice

praier is the moste holy and diuine sacrifice,
that man here in earth vnto god may present,
prayer with repentaunce is the due and perfect seruice,
that withstandeth the diuill, and his cursed entent,
pray to god, trust in him, but fyrst be penitent.
for as a sound shippe saue them that be therein
so praier with repentaunce, saue fro drowning in sinne.

The summe of all. In mans soule there is set, at his fyrst entraunce

In mans soule there is set, at his fyrst entraunce:
into this shorte lyfe, of care and miserie,
certaine hid seedes, of pure and liuely substaunce
Rules of sciences, as Plato doth testifie.
whereby at all times, we may the more worthelye
as men among men, through science and learning
differ from beastes, in wyse mens companye
els as beastes among men regarded nothinge.