THEOLOGUS

O say not so Philologus, for God is gracious, And to forgive the penitent his mercy is plenteous. Do you not know that all the earth with mercy does 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 dismayed, Christ's death alone for all your sins, a perfect ransom paid: God does not covet sinners death, but rather that he may By living still, bewaill his sins, and so them put away. Consider Peeter who three times his Master did deny: Yea, with and 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 Peeter his own fault, did at the last perceive, And did bewail his former crime, with alt and bitter tears, Christ by and by did pardon him, the Gospel witness bears. The thief likewise, and murderer, 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 with stood, 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 God is not abridged, but still he is of might, To pardon them that call to him unfeignedly for grace, Again, it is Gods property, to pardon sinners quite: Pray therefore with thy heart to God, here in this open place, And from the very root of heart bewail to him thy case: And I assure Thee, God will, on Thee his mercy show, Through Jesus Christ, who is with him our advocate you know. Then pray with us, as Christ us taught, we do you all desire. The Lord be praised, who hath at length thy spirit mollified, These are not tokens unto us of your reprobation, You morn with tears, and sue for grace, wherefore be certified, That God in mercy gives care, unto your supplication, Wherefore despair not thou at all of thy souls preservation, And say not with a desperate heart, that God against Thee is, He will no doubt, these pains once passed, receive you into bliss. Your mind corrupted doth present, to you, this fall e 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. 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, Who so he be, which perfectly, true faith in heart once hold: Wherefore rehearse in short discourse, the sum of your belief, In these points chiefly, which for health of soul, are thought most chief. The meaning of Philologus, is not here so exact, As do his words make it to seem, by your allegation, He does not mean between good works, and faith to make relation As though works were equiuolent, salvation to attain. As is true faith, but what he meant, I will set down more plain, He did exhort the youngmen here, by him for to beware, Least as he did, so they abuse, Gods gospel pure, And without good advice, usurp of faith the gift so rare: Whereby they think, what so they do, the ̄ selves from torments free, And by this proud presumption, Gods anger should procure: And where they boast and vaunt, the ̄ selves, good faithful men to been, Yet in their lives, they do deny their faith in each degree: Wherefore he says, as Peter said, see that you do make known, Your own election by your works: again, S. James does say, Show Me thy faith, and by my works, my faith shall Thee be shown. And whereupon his own offence, he doth to them bewray, Whereas he did vainegloryously, upon a dead faith stay: Which for the inward righteousness, he always did suspect, And hereupon all godliness of life, he did neglect. What? do you not Philologus, with us no comfort take, When all these things, so godlily, to you I do reveal, Especially, sith that your self, in them are seen so well: Some hope unto us of your health, and safety yet is left, we do not think that all Gods grace, from you is wholly reft. Alas my friend, take in good partly, the chastment of y e Lord Who does correct you in this world, that in the life to come, He might you save, for of the Like, the Scripture tears re These words do nothing edify, but rather fancies fill, which we would gladly if we could, endeavour for to kill. wherefore, I once again request, together let us pray: And so we will leave you to God, and send you hen e away. Do as you can, no more then might, we can ask at your hand. Come kneel by me, and let us pray, the Lord of Heaven unto: We will no longer stay you now, but let you hence depart. Gisbertus and Paphinitius, conduct him to his plam But see he have good company, let him not be alone: Oh glorious God, how wonderful, those judgements are of thine Thou dost behold the secret heart, nought does thy eyes beguile, O what occasion is us given, to fear thy might divine, And from our would es to hate and loath, iniquities so vile, Least for the sane, thou in thy wrath, dost grace from us exile. The outward man doth Thee not please, nor yet, the mind alone, But thou requirest both of us, or else regardest none. Again Philologus witnesseth, which is the truth of Christ, For that consenting to the Pope, he did the Lord abture, Whereby he teached the wavering faith, on which side to persist: And those which have the truth of God, that still they may endure, The Tyrants, which delight in blood, he likewise does assure, In whose affairs, they spend their time: but let us home ward go.