CHRIST

Into this world God hath sent his own, Not to judge the world, or to take vengeance, But to preach forgiveness and pardon, Through true faith in him, and perfect repentance. The son of man is come to seek and save, Such persons as perish and go astray, God hath promised them life eternally to have, If they repent, and turn from their evil way, The kingdom of heaven is at hand, therefore repent, Amend your lives, and the Gospel believe, The son of God into this world is sent, To have mercy on men, and their sins to forgive. Like as the father raiseth the dead again, And unto life does them mercifully restore: So the son quickeneth the dead it is plain, And giveth them a life to live evermore, Verily verily I say, he that hears my voice, And believeth on him that hath me sent, Shall have everlasting life therein to rejoice, And shall not come into damnable torment. But the same pass from death unto life, Repent, and trust in Gods mercy for my sake. With the sins of the world be at debate and strife, And unto grace my heavenly father will you take. All they whom the law condemneth for sin, By faith in me, I save and justify, I am come sinners by repentance to win, Like as the Prophet before did prophecy. Thou woman, with mercy I do thee prevent, If thou canst in the Son of God believe, And for thy former life be sorry and repent, All thy sins and offences I do forgive. Marry my grace shall be for thee sufficient, Go thy way forth with faith and repentance, To hear the Gospel of health be thou diligent, And the words thereof bear in thy remembrance. I thank thee Oh father, Oh lord of heaven ̄ , earth, & of all That thou hast hidden these things from the sapient, And hast revealed them to the little ones and small, Yea so it pleased thee Oh father omnipotent. All things of my father are committed unto me, And who the son is, none but the father does knew No ma ̄ but the son knoweth who y e father should be, And he to whom the son will reveal and show. Come unto me all you that with labour are open essed, And are heavy laden, and I will you comfort, Despair not for that you have transgressed, But for mercy do you boldly to me resort. My yoke upon your necks do you gladly take, And learn of me, for I am low and meek in heart, And you shall find rest for your souls never to slake, My yoke and burden is light in every partly. I came not into the world, the righteous to call, But the sinful persons unto repentance: The whoale have no need of the physician at all, But the sick have need of deliverance. Verily I say unto you, that the angels, Have more joy in one sinner that does repent, Than in many righteous persons else, Which are no sinners in their judgement. With a good will I will wait upon you, Pleases it you to go before, you know the way. When we have sufficient before us to eat, Let us thank God, and put away all care. The more that I accustom my self with repentance, The more I see mine own sin and iniquity, The more knowledge thereof, the more grevance, To a soul that is converted from his impiety. To all the world and example I may be, In whom the mercy of Christ is declared, Oh Lord, what goodness didst thou in me see? That thus mercifully thou hast me spared. What goodness? nay rather what a rabble of evils, Full of wickedness, Like one passed all grace, Replenished with a multitude of devils, Which as in hell in my soul had their place. These were the merits and deeds that I had, Only thy unspeakable mercy did me prevent: And though that my life hath be so bade, Yet thou wilt no more but that I should repent. Oh who shall give me a fountain of tears, That I may shed abundantly for my sin? This voice of the Lord always sou ̄ death in mine ears Repent, repent, and thou shalt be sure heaven to win He says also, do the fruits of Repentance. Oh Lord, who is able those worthy fruits to do? I am not able to do sufficient penance, Except thy grace good Lord, do help me thereto. But Like as the parts of my body in times passed, I have made servants to all kind of iniquity, The same iniquity away for ever I do cast, And will make my body servant to the verity. This hair of my head which I have abused, I repute vile and unworthy to wipe my lords feet, No obsequy therewith of me shall be refused, To do my Lord Jesus service, as it is most meet. These fleshly eyes which with their wanton looks, Many persons to sin and vice have procured. They have been the devils volumes and books, Which from the service of God have other allured. Now you sinful eyes shed out tears and water, Wash the Lords feet with the ̄ who ̄ you have offended To show such obsequy to him it is a small matter, Which by his grace hath my sinful life amended. Oh wretched eyes can you weep for a thing temporal, As for the lose of worldly goods and parents, And can you not weep for the lord celestial? Which lose incomparably passes all detriments. With this ointment most pure and precious, I was wont to make this carcase pleasant and sweet Whereby it was made more wicked and vicious, And to all vnthriftynesse very apt and meet. Now would I gladly this ointment bestow, About the innocent feet of my saviour, That by these penitent fruits my lord may know That I am right sorry for my sinful behaviour. All my worldly substance abused before, And through unbelief of sin made instruments, Now will I bestow them only to his honour, In helping him, and for his sake other innocents. I shall not cease to seek till my lord I have found, He is in the house of Simon I herd say, The house stands on yonder same ground: It was told me that he dineth there to day. I was not ashamed to sin before the Lords sighed And shall I be ashamed before ma ̄ the same to continued ̄ fesse? To my Lord Jesus, now forth will I go right, Acknowledging to him my penitent heart doubtless There were two debtors, whom I did well know, Which were in debt to a lender that was thrifty: The one five hundred pence truly did owe, And the other ought not above fifty: Neither of these debtors had wherewith to pay, Wherefore the lender forgave both, as it did behoove. Now according to your judgement I pray you say, Which of these debtors ought the lender most love Avoid out of this woman thou Infidelity, With the .vii. devils which have his possessed, I banish you hence by the power of my divinity, For to salvation I have his dressed. Arise woman, and thank the father of heaven, Which with his mercy hath thee prevented, By his power I have rei cted from the spirits seven, Which with unbelief have thy soul tormented. My father even unto this time works truly, And I work according to his commandment & will, The son can do nothing of him self duly, But that he sees the father doing always still. Whatsoever the Father does, the son does the same, For the father does the son entirely love, And shows him all things to the praise of his name, And shall show him greater works than ̄ these as you shall prove My meat is to do his will that hath me sent, But sir I thank you of your great courtesy, To come to you I shall be very well content, So that you will appoint the hour steadily. I thank you sir, I will fit down even anon, But first we will praise God, and say our grace. Blessed art thou heavenly father, which of thy mercy Hast made man to thine own image and similitude Which through Satan's wicked malice and envy Was spoiled of thy grace and of ghostly fortitude. But at this time of thy mercy appointed, Thou hast looked on man, of thy compassion, And sent thine own son with thy spirit anointed, Which for his sin shall make satisfaction. Let all creatures praise thee for their creation, Glory to thy name for their preservation, Laud and honour to thee for their restauration, All thanks to thee for eternal salvation, I am come into this world the truth to testify, Whereof the scripture and the Prophets do witness all If I of my self should bear testimony, My witness of you should not be taken as true, But there is and other that witnesseth of me verily. And I know that his testimony is true. Of man truly no testimony do I take: But I speak these words that saved you might be. The son of God is sent hither for your sake, Whom in the glory of his majesty you shall see. The works which to me the father does give, That I may do them, those works to you I say, Bear witness, if you have the grace to believe, That the father hath sent me into the world this day. Beside these works, the father that hath me sent, Hath by many scriptures of me testified: By the which the matter is evident, That my words spoken before are verified. But the father you have never herd speaking, And what he is by faith you have never seen: His word you have not in you remaining. Therefore to him whom he hath see ̄ to faithful you have not be ̄ Search y to scriptures, for you Thy ̄ k in your mind That in them you shall obtain life eternal, Them to bear witness of me you shall find, How I am the son of the living God immortal. You know that there is .xi. hours in the day And night comes not till the .xii. hours be expired It is not in men power my life to take away, Till the hour comes of my father required. You have rightly judged, and to the purpose. Absolving my question Like a man of science, See you this woman? I know that in your herts You condemn her as a sinner very unmeet To enter among you, and to touch any parts, Of my body, yea either head or feet: Saying among your selves, if this were a Prophet, He would know what manner a woman this is Which thus comes in while we be at meat, A sinner she is, and hath done greatly amiss. I say unto you, that into this world I am come To call such great debtors unto repentance, The joust, which in their continued ̄ ceits owe but a small sum ̄ me Have no need of their creditors deliverance. I say unto you, that for this cause was I born, To bear witness unto the verity, I see who be hypocrites full of dissembling scorn, And who be persons of faith and simplicity. Where as you think you have done me pleasure, In bidding me to eat and drink with you here, Your intent was to show your richesse and treasure, And that your holiness might to me appear. But this woman hath showed to me a little obsequy: For these gestures which she shows to me, Proceed from a true meaning heart verily, As by her humility plainly you may see. When I came into your house the truth to say, You gave me no water to wash my feet withal, This woman hath washed them here this day, With the tears of her eyes which on them did fallen, With the hair of his head she hath wiped the same, Thinking all other clothes thereto over vile, Horrible in his fight is his sin and blame, Thinking his self worthy of eternal exile. You gave me no kiss as the manner of the country is But this woman since the time that I came in, Would not presume my head or mouth to kiss, But my feet, lamenting in his heart for his sin. My head you did not anoint with oil so sweet, As men of this country do their guests use, But with most precious balm she anointed my feet, No cost about that ointment she does refuse. Blessed are they, as the Prophet does say, Whose sins are forgiven & covered by Gods mercy, Not by the deeds of the law as you think this day. But of Gods good will, favour and grace freely. At this woman's sin you do greatly grutch, As though your selves were joust holy, and pure, But many sins are forgiven his, because she loved much And of the mercy of God she is sure. He to whom but a little is remitted in deed, Loves but a little, we see by experience: All have sinned, and of Gods glory have need. Therefore humble your selves with penitence. I say to thee woman, thy sins are forgiven all, God for my sake will not them to thee impute: For strength to continue, to him do thou call, And see that thanks thou do to him attribute. Woman I say, thy faith hath saved thee go in peace: Now art thou pacified in thy conscience, Through thy faith, I do all thy sins release, Assuring thee to have mercy for thy negligence. Oh Simon, put away that Malicious judgement, Which in your heart you do stubbornly contain, You shall not perceive Gods commandment, As long as he in your conscience does remain. To fulfil the law requires Gods spirit, For the law is holy, joust, and spiritual, Of love to be observed it is requisite, And not of these observances external. As long as you have this malicious judgement. Accompanied with Infidelity, I say you can not keep Gods commandment, Though you show and outward sanctity. Thanks be to thee Oh Father, for this cheer, Thanks be to thee for our repast of meat & drink. Now sir, you shall licence me to depart, And the heavenly Father might illumine your mind Expelling this infidelity from your heart, Which with Malicious iudgeme ̄ to keepeth you blind. Canst thou believe in God, the maker of all thing, And in his only son, whom he hath sent? Yea truly, if this faith do from Gods word decline, It is no faith, but a certain incredulity, Which causeth the mind to uva ̄ der in strange doctrine And so to fallen at length into impiety. Simon, the truth is so, I have a thing in my mind Which unto you I must needs express and say.