SATAN

No where I fourther, but every where I noy, For I am Satan, the come adversary, And enemy to Man, him seeking to destroy And to bring to nought, by my assaults most crafty. I watch every where, wanting no policy, To trap him in snare, and make him the child of hell. What number I win, it were very long to tell. I heard a great noise, in Jordan now of late, Upon one Jesus, sounding from heaven above. This is mine own son, which hath withdrawn all hate, And he that does stand, most highly in my love. My wits the same sound, does not a little move. He comes to redeem, the kind of Man I fear, High time is it than, for me the cools to steer. I will not leave him till I know what he is, And what he entendeth, in this same border hear. Subtyltie must help, else all will be amys, A godly pretence, outwardly must I bear, Seeming religious, devout and sad in my gear. If he be come now, for the redemption of Man, As I fear he is, I will stop him if I can. Hic simulata religion Christum aggreditur. It is a Great joy, by my holydome to see, So virtuous a life, in a young man as you be. As here thus to wander, in godly contemplation. And to live alone, in the desert solitary. A brother am I, of this desert wilderness, And full glad would be, to talk with you of goodness If you would accept, my simple company. Than will I be bold, a little with you to walk. Now forsooth and God, it is joy of your life, That you take sech pains, and are in virtue so rife. Where so small joys are, to recreate the heart. You speak it full well, it is even as you say, But tell me how long, you have be here, I you pray. So Much I judged, by your pale countenance. Then is it no marvel, I trow, though you hungry. Well, to be pleyne with you, abroad the rumour does ro ̄ ne Among the people, that you should be Gods son. If you be Gods son, as it hath great likelihood, Make of these stones bread, and give your body his food. Not only for that, this similitude I bring, But my purpose is to conclude and other thing. At the father's voice, you took this life in hand, Minding now to preach, as I do understand. In case you do so, you shall find the office harden. My mind is in this, you should your body regard, And not vndyscretelye, to cast your self away. Rather take some ease, than you should so decay. I put case you be, Gods son, what can that further? Preach you ones the truth, the bishops will you murder. Therefore believe not, the voice that you dead hear, Though it came from God, for it is unsavoury gear. Beyond your cumpas, rather than you so run, Forsake the office, and deny yourself Gods son. I had rather nay, considering your feebleness, For you are but tuly, you are no strong person doughtlesse. J are styfnecked, you will follow no good counsel. Scriptures I know non, for I am but and hermit I I may say to you, it is no partly of our stody. We religious men, live all in contemplation, Scriptures to stodye, is not our occupation. It longeth to doctors. Howbeit I may say to you, As blind are they as we, in the understanding now. Well shall it please you, any farther, with me to walk, Though I little profyght, yet does it me good to talk. Lete us than wander, into the holy cite, Of Jerusalem, to see what is there a do. My purpose is this, A voice in your ear dead ring, That you were Gods soon, and well-beloved darling, And you believe it, but you are the more unwise, For to deceive you, it was some subtle practise. Well, upon that voice, you are given to persyghtnesse Not else regarding, but to live in ghostlynesse. You watch, fast and pray, you shine in contemplation, Leading here a life, beyond all estimation, No meat will you eat, but live by Gods word only So good are you w to, so perfect and so holy. I will bring you (I trow) to the well of ghostlynesse, Where I shall fill you, and glut you with holiness. What, holy, quoth he? Nay, you were never so holy, As I will make you, if you follow handsomely. Here is all holy, here is the holy city, The holy temple, and the holy priests here be. You will be holy? well, you shall be above them all, Because you are Gods son, it does you so befall. Come here, on the pynnacle, we will be by and by. When you were hungry, I dead you first persuade, Of stones to make bread, but you would non of that trade. You laid for yourself, that scripture would not serve it, That was your bucklar, but now I am for you fit. For the suggestion, that I now shall to you say, I have scripture at hand, you shall it not denay. If you do believe, that you are the son of God, Believe this also, if you leap down here in scoff, From this high pynnacle, you can take no harm theroff. And therefore be bold, this enterprise to ieoparde· If you be Gods son, cast down your self here backward. Say that you dead it, upon a good intent. Tush, scripture is with it, you can not fare amys. For it is written, how God hath given a charge, Unto his Angels, that if you leap at large, They shall receive you, in their hands tenderly, Least you dalhe your foot, against a stone thereby. If you do take scathe, believe God is not true, Nor joust of his word, And than bid him adewe. Why, is it not true, that soch a text there is? Well, than I said true, and as it lies in the text. It made not for me, if you will, you may it rehearse. No nyghar (I say) for there you touch from hold. What is it to tempt God? after your judgement. What persons do so? Make that more evident. Little good get I, by this communycacyon. Will you walk farther, and lete this prattling be? A mountain here is, which I would you to see, Trust me and you will, it is a commodyouse thing. Lo, how say you now, is not here a Pleasant sight? If you will you may, have here all the world's delight. Here is to be seane, the kingdom of Araby, With all the regions, of Affryck, Europe; and Asye, And their whole delights, their pomp, their magnyfyce ̄ ce Their riches their honour, their wealth, their concupysce ̄ ce. Here is gold and silver, in wonderful abundance, Sylkes, veluetes, tyssues, with wines & spices of pleasance. Here are fair women, of countenance ameable, With all kinds of meats, to the body dylectable. Here are camels, stout horses, & mules that never will Tyre, With so many pleasures, as your heart can desire. Alas it grieveth me, that you are soch a believer. Nothing can I say, but ever you avoid me, By the word of God. Leave that point ones I pray you If I bid you make, of stones bread for your body, You say man liveth not, in temporal feadynge only. As I bid you leap, down from the pynnacle above, You will not tempt God, otherwise than you behoove. Thus are you Still poor, thus are you Still weak and needy, Forsake the believe, that you have in Gods word, That you are his son, for it is not worth a torde, Is he a father, that see his son thus famish? If you believe it, I say you are to foolish. You see these pleasures. If you be ruled by me, I shall make you a man. To my words therefore agree. Look on these kingdoms, and incomparable treasure, I the lord of them, may give them at my pleasure. Forsake that father, which leaveth the without Comfort, In this desolation, and hens fourth to me resort. Knowledge me for head, of this world universal. And I will make the, possessor of them all. Thu shalt no longer, be desolate and hungry, But have all the world, to do the obsequy. Therefore knee down here, and worship me this hour, And thu shalt have all, with their whole strength and pour. Well, than it helpeth not, to tarry here any longer, Advantage to have, I see I must go farther. So long as thu livest, I am like to have no profyght, If all come to pass, I ma you fit as Much in your light, If you preach Gods word, as me think you do intend, Ere four years be passed I shall you to your father send, If pharisees and scribes, can do any thing thereto, False priests and bishops, with my other servants more. Though I have hindrance, it will be but for a season, I dought not, thine own, hereafter will work some treason Thy vicar at Room, I think will be my Friend, I defy the therefore, and take thy words but as wind. He shall me worship, and have the world to reward, That thu here forsakest, he will most highly regard. Gods word will he tread, underneath his foot for ever, And the hearts of men, from the truth thereof dyssener, Thy faith will he hate, and slee thy flock in conclusion. All this will I work, to do the utter confusion.