Volume I Part 59 (2/2)

I, d.a.m.nable wretch, deserved execution Of terrible death without all remedy, And to be put out of all good memory.

I am enforced to rejoice here inwardly, An imp though I be of h.e.l.l, death, and d.a.m.nation, Through my own working: for I consider thy mercy And pitiful mind for my whole generation.

It is thou, sweet Lord, that workest my salvation And my recover. Therefore of a congruence From hence thou must have my heart and obedience.

Though I be mortal by reason of my offence, And shall die the death,[289] like as G.o.d hath appointed: Of this am I sure, through his high influence, At a certain day again to be revived.

From ground of my heart this shall not be removed.

I have it in faith, and therefore I will sing This anthem to him that my salvation shall bring.

_Tunc sonora voce, provolutis genibus, Antiphonam incipit_, O sapientia, _quam prosequetur chorus c.u.m organis, eo interim exeunte_.

_Vel sub eodem tono poterit sic Anglice cantare_.

O eternal sapience, that proceedest from the mouth of the highest, reaching forth with a great power from the beginning to the end, with heavenly sweetness disposing all creatures, come now and instruct us the true way of thy G.o.dly prudence.

_Finit Actus primus_.

ACTUS SECUNDUS.

PATER COELESTIS. I have been moved to strike man diversely.

Since I left Adam in this same earthly mansion; For why he hath done to me displeasures many, And will not amend his life in any condition: No respect hath he to my word nor monition, But doth what him l.u.s.t without discreet advis.e.m.e.nt, And will in no wise take mine advertis.e.m.e.nt.

Cain hath slain Abel his brother, an innocent, Whose blood from the earth doth call to me for vengeance: My children with men so carnally consent, That their vain working is unto me much grievance: Mankind is but flesh in his whole dalliance.

All vice increaseth in him continually, Nothing he regardeth to walk unto my glory.

My heart abhorreth his wilful misery, His cankered malice, his cursed covetousness, His l.u.s.ts lecherous, his vengeable tyranny, Unmerciful murther and other unG.o.dliness.

I will destroy him for his outrageousness.

And not him only, but all that on earth do stere,[290]

For it repenteth me that ever I made them here.

JUSTUS NOAH. Most Gentle Maker, with his frailness somewhat bear; Man is thy creature, thyself cannot say nay.

Though thou punish him, to put him somewhat in fear, His fault to knowledge,[291] yet seek not his decay.

Thou mayest reclaim him, though he goeth now astray, And bring him again, of thy abundant grace, To the fold of faith, he acknowledging his trespa.s.s.

PATER COELESTIS. Thou knowest I have given to him convenient s.p.a.ce, With lawful warnings, yet he amendeth in no place.

The natural law, which I wrote in his heart, He hath outrased, all goodness putting apart: Of health the covenant, which I to Adam made, He regardeth not, but walketh a d.a.m.nable tread.[292]

JUSTUS NOAH. All this is true, Lord, I cannot thy words reprove, Let his weakness yet thy merciful goodness move.

PATER COELESTIS. No weakness is it, but wilful working all, That reigneth in man through mind diabolical.

He shall have therefore like as he hath deserved.

JUSTUS NOAH. Lose him not yet, Lord, though he hath deeply swerved.

I know thy mercy is far above his rudeness, Being infinite, as all other things are in thee.

His folly therefore now pardon of thy goodness, And measure it not beyond thy G.o.dly pity.

Esteem not his fault farther than help may be, But grant him thy grace, as he offendeth so deeply, Thee to remember, and abhor his misery.

Of all goodness, Lord, remember thy great mercy To Adam and Eve, breaking thy first commandment.

Them thou relieved with thy sweet promise heavenly, Sinful though they were, and their lives negligent.

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