Time’s nothing but a word; a million
Is full as far from infinite as one. 
To whom thou much dost owe, thou much must pay,
Think on the debt against th’accounting day. 
God, who to thee reason and knowledge lent,
Will ask how these two talents have been spent. 
Let not low pleasures thy high reason blind,
He’s mad, that seeks what no man e’er could find. 
Why should we fondly please our sense, wherein
Beasts us exceed, nor feel the stings of sin? 150
What thoughts man’s reason better can become,
Than th’expectation of his welcome home? 
Lords of the world have but for life their lease,
And that too (if the lessor please) must cease. 
Death cancels nature’s bonds, but for our deeds
(That debt first paid) a strict account succeeds;
If here not clear’d, no suretyship can bail
Condemned debtors from th’eternal jail;
Christ’s blood’s our balsam; if that cure us here,
Him, when our judge, we shall not find severe; 160
His yoke is easy when by us embraced,
But loads and galls, if on our necks ’tis cast. 
Be just in all thy actions, and if join’d
With those that are not, never change thy mind. 
If ought obstruct thy course, yet stand not still,
But wind about, till you have topp’d the hill;
To the same end men sev’ral paths may tread,
As many doors into one temple lead;
And the same hand into a fist may close,
Which, instantly a palm expanded shows. 170
Justice and faith never forsake the wise,
Yet may occasion put him in disguise;
Not turning like the wind; but if the state
Of things must change, he is not obstinate;
Things past and future with the present weighs,
Nor credulous of what vain rumour says. 
Few things by wisdom are at first believed;
An easy ear deceives, and is deceived: 
For many truths have often pass’d for lies,
And lies as often put on truth’s disguise; 180
As flattery too oft like friendship shows,
So them who speak plain truth we think our foes. 
No quick reply to dubious questions make,
Suspense and caution still prevent mistake. 
When any great design thou dost intend,
Think on the means, the manner, and the end: 
All great concernments must delays endure;
Rashness and haste make all things unsecure;
And if uncertain thy pretensions be,
Stay till fit time wear out uncertainty; 190
But if to unjust things thou dost pretend,
Ere they begin let thy pretensions end. 
Let thy discourse be such that thou may’st give
Profit to others, or from them receive: 
Instruct the ignorant; to those that live
Under thy care, good rules and patterns give;
Nor is’t the least of virtues, to relieve
Those whom afflictions or oppressions grieve. 
Commend but sparingly whom thou dost love: 
But less condemn whom thou dost not approve;