A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 16

THEOLOGUS.

O, say not so, Philologus, for G.o.d is gracious, And to forgive the penitent his mercy is plenteous.

Do you not know that all the earth with mercy doth abound, And though the sins of all the world upon one man were laid, If he one only spark of grace or mercy once had found, His wickedness could not him harm: wherefore be not dismay'd.

Christ's death alone for all your sins a perfect ransom paid: G.o.d doth not covet sinner's death, but rather that he may By living still bewail his sins, and so them put away.

Consider Peter, who three times his master did deny; Yea, with an oath; and that although Christ did him warning give, With whom before-time he had lived so long familiarly, Of whom so many benefits of love he did receive; Yet when once Peter his own fault did at the last perceive, And did bewail his former crime with salt and bitter tears, Christ by and by did pardon him, the gospel witness bears.

The thief likewise and murtherer, which never had done good, But had in mischief spent his days, yea, during all his life, With latest breath when he his sins and wickedness withstood, And with iniquities of flesh his spirit was at strife, Thorough that one motion of his heart and power of true belief, He was received into grace, and all his sins defaced, Christ saying, Soon in paradise with me thou shalt be placed.

The hand of G.o.d is not abridged, but still he is of might To pardon them that call to him unfeignedly for grace.

Again, it is G.o.d's property to pardon sinners quite: Pray therefore with thy heart to G.o.d here in this open place, And from the very root of heart bewail to him thy case, And, I a.s.sure thee, G.o.d will on thee his mercy show Through Jesus Christ, who is with him our advocate, you know.

PHILOLOGUS.

I have no faith: the words you speak my heart doth not believe.

I must confess that I for sin am justly thrown to h.e.l.l.

EUSEBIUS.

His monstrous incredulity my very heart doth grieve.

Ah, dear Philologus! I have known by face and visage well A sort of men, which have been vex'd with devils and spirits fell, In far worse state than you are yet, brought into desperation, Yet in the end have been reclaimed by G.o.dly exhortation.

Such are the mercies of the Lord, he will throw down to h.e.l.l, And yet call back again from thence, as holy David writes.

What should then let you trust in G.o.d? I pray you to us tell, Sith to forgive and do us good it chiefly him delights?

What, would not you that of your sins he should you clean acquite?

How can he once deny to you one thing you do request, Which hath already given to you his best-beloved Christ?

Lift up your heart in hope, therefore; awhile be of good cheer, And make access unto his seat of grace by earnest prayer, And G.o.d will surely you relieve with grace, stand not in fear.

PHILOLOGUS.

I do believe that out from G.o.d proceed these comforts fair: So do the devils, yet of their health they alway do despair.

They are not written unto me, for I would fain attain The mercy and the love of G.o.d, but he doth me disdain.

How would you have that man to live, which hath no mouth to eat?

No more can I live in my soul, which have no faith at all: And where you say that Peter did of Christ soon pardon get, Who in the selfsame sin with me from G.o.d did greatly fall, Why I cannot obtain the same, to you I open shall: G.o.d had respect to him always, and did him[57] firmly love, But I, alas! am reprobate; G.o.d doth my soul reprove.

Moreover, I will say with tongue, whatso you will require: My heart, I feel, with blasphemy and cursing is replete.

THEOLOGUS.

Then pray with us, as Christ us taught, we do you all desire.

PHILOLOGUS.

To pray with lips unto your G.o.d you shall me soon entreat: My spirit to Satan is in thrall; I can it not thence get.

EUSEBIUS.

G.o.d shall renew your spirit again; pray only as you can, And to a.s.sist you in the same we pray each Christian man.

PHILOLOGUS.

O G.o.d, which dwellest in the heavens, and art our Father dear, Thy holy name throughout the world be ever sanctified, The kingdom of thy word and Spirit upon us rule might bear, Thy will in earth as by thy saints in heaven be ratified; Our daily bread, we thee beseech, O Lord, for us provide; Our sins remit, Lord, unto us, as we each man forgive: Let not temptation us a.s.sail; in all evil us relieve. Amen.

THEOLOGUS.

The Lord be praised, who hath at length thy spirit mollified.

These are not tokens unto us of your reprobation: You mourn with tears, and sue for grace; wherefore be certified, That G.o.d in mercy giveth ear unto your supplication.

Wherefore despair not thou at all of thy soul's preservation, And say not with a desperate heart, that G.o.d against thee is: He will no doubt, these pains once past, receive you into bliss.

PHILOLOGUS.

No, no, my friends, you only hear and see the outward part, Which, though you think they have done well, it booteth not at all.

My lips have spoke the words indeed; but yet I feel my heart With cursing is replenished, with rancour, spite and gall: Neither do I your Lord and G.o.d in heart my Father call, But rather seek his holy name for to blaspheme and curse.

My state, therefore, doth not amend, but wax still worse and worse.

I am secluded clean from grace, my heart is hardened quite; Wherefore you do your labour lose, and spend your breath in vain.

EUSEBIUS.

O, say not so, Philologus, but let your heart be pight Upon the mercies of the Lord, and I you ascertain[58]

Remission of your former sins you shall at last obtain.

G.o.d hath it said (who cannot lie): at whatsoever time A sinner shall from heart repent, I will remit his crime.

PHILOLOGUS.

You cannot say so much to me, as herein I do know, That by the mercies of the Lord all sins are done away, And unto them that have true faith abundantly it flow; But whence do this true faith proceed to us, I do you pray?

It is the only gift of G.o.d, from him it comes alway; I would, therefore, he would vouchsafe one spark of faith to plant Within my breast: then of his grace I know I should not want.

But it as easily may be done, as you may with one spoon At once take up the water clean, which in the seas abide; And at one draught then drink it up: this shall ye do as soon, As to my breast of true belief one sparkle shall betide.

Tush! you which are in prosperous state, and my pains have not tried, Do think it but an easy thing a sinner to repent Him of his sins, and by true faith d.a.m.nation to prevent.

The healthful need not physic's art, and ye, which are all hale, Can give good counsel to the sick their sickness to eschew; But here, alas! confusion and h.e.l.l doth me a.s.sail, And that all grace from me is reft, I find it to be true.

My heart is steel, so that no faith can from the same ensue.

I can conceive no hope at all of pardon or of grace, But out, alas! Confusion is alway before my face.

And certainly, even at this[59] time, I do most plainly see The devils to be about me round, which make great preparation, And keep a stir here in this place which only is for me: Neither do I conceive these things by vain imagination, But even as truly as mine eyes behold your shape and fashion.

Wherefore, desired Death, despatch; my body bring to rest, Though that my soul in furious flames of fire be suppress'd.

THEOLOGUS.

Your mind corrupted doth present to you this false illusion; But turn awhile unto the spirit of truth in your distress, And it shall cast out from your eyes all horror and confusion, And of this your affliction it will you soon redress.

EUSEBIUS.

We have good hope, Philologus, of your salvation, doubtless.

PHILOLOGUS.

What your hope is concerning me, I utterly contemn: My Conscience, which for thousands stand, as guilty me condemn.

EUSEBIUS.

When did this horror first you take? what, think you, is the cause?

PHILOLOGUS.

Even shortly after I did make mine open abjuration, For that I did prefer my goods before G.o.d's holy laws.

Therefore in wrath he did me send this horrible vexation, And hath me wounded in the soul with grievous tribulation, That I may be a president, in whom all men may view Those torments which to them, that will forsake the Lord, are due.

THEOLOGUS.

Yet let me boldly ask one thing of you without offence: What was your former faith in Christ, which you before did hold?

For it is said of holy Paul, in these same words in sense: It cannot be that utterly in faith he should be cold, Whoso he be, which perfectly true faith in heart once hold.

Wherefore rehea.r.s.e in short discourse the sum of your belief, In those points chiefly, which for health of soul are thought most chief.

PHILOLOGUS.

I did believe in heart that Christ was that true sacrifice, Which did appease the Father's wrath, and that by him alone We were made just and sanctified: I did believe, likewise, That without him heaven to attain sufficient means were none.

But to reknowledge this again alas! all grace was gone: I never loved him again with right and sincere heart, Neither was thankful for the same, as was each good man's part.

But rather took the faith of Christ for liberty to sin, And did abuse his graces great to further carnal l.u.s.t.

What wickedness I did commit, I cared not a pin; For that[60] Christ discharged had my ransom, I did trust: Wherefore the Lord doth now correct the same with torments just.

My sons, my sons, I speak to you: my counsel ponder well, And practise that in deeds which I in words shall to you tell.

I speak not this, that I would ought the gospel derogate, Which is most true in every part, I must it needs confess; But this I say, that of vain faith alone you should not prate, But also by your holy life you should your faith express: Believe me, sirs, for by good proof these things I do express.

Peruse the writing of St James, and first of Peter too, Which all G.o.d's people holiness of life exhort unto.

By sundry reasons--as for, first, because we strangers are; Again, sin from the flesh proceed, but we are of the spirit; The third, because the flesh alway against the spirit do war; The fourth, that we may stop the mouths of such as would backbite; The fifth, that other by our lives to G.o.d reduce we might: Again, they sing a pleasant song, which sing in deed and word, But where evil life ensue good words, there is a foul discord.

But I, alas! most wretched wight, whereas I did presume That I had got a perfect faith, did holy life disdain: And though I did to other preach good life, I did consume, My life in wickedness and sin, in sport and pleasures vain.