Volume Ii Part 14 (1/2)
JUVENTUS [_He riseth_].
These comfortable sayings doth me greatly move To arise from this wretched place.
G.o.d'S MERCIFUL PROMISES.
For me his mercy sake thou shalt obtain his grace, And not for thine own desertes, this must thou know; For my sake alone, ye shall receive solace; For my sake alone, he will thee mercy show: Therefore to him, as it is most due, Give most hearty thanks with heart unfeigned, Whose name for evermore be praised.
GOOD COUNSEL.
The prodigal son, as in Luke we read, Which in vicious living his good doth waste, As soon as his living he had remembered, To confess his wretchedness he was not aghast; Wherefore his father lovingly him embrac'd, And was[164] right joyful, the text saith plain, Because his son was returnen[165] again.
JUVENTUS.
O sinful flesh, thy pleasures are but vain: Now I find it true, as the scripture doth say, Broad[166] and pleasant is the path which leadeth unto pain, But unto eternal life full narrow is the way.[167]
He that is not led by G.o.d's spirit surely goeth astray; And all that ever he doth shall be clean abhorred; Although he brag and boast never so much of G.o.d's word.
O subtle Satan, full deceitful is thy snare; Who is able thy falsehood to disclose?
What is the man, that thou doest favour or spare, And doest not[168] tempt him eternal joys to lose?
Not one in the world, surely I suppose.
Therefore happy is the man, which doth truly wait, Always to refuse thy deceitful and crafty bait.
When I had thought to live most christianly, And followed the steps of Knowledge and Good Counsel, Ere I was aware, thou haddest deceived me, And brought me into the path, which leadeth unto h.e.l.l: And of an earnest professor of Christ's gospel Thou madest me an hypocrite, blind and pervert, And from virtue unto vice thou hadst clean turned my heart.
First, by hypocrisy thou didest me move, The mortification of the flesh clean to forsake, And wanton desires to embrace and love; Alas! to think on it my heart doth yet quake: Under the t.i.tle of Friends.h.i.+p to me ye spake, And so to wicked Fellows.h.i.+p did me bring, Which brought me clean to Abhominable Living.
Thus, I say, Satan did me deceive, And wrapped me in sin many a fold; The steps of Good Counsel I did forsake and leave, And forgot the words which before to me he told: The fruits of a true Christian in me waxed cold; I followed mine own l.u.s.ts, the flesh I did not tame, And had them in derision which would not do the same.
Yet it hath pleased G.o.d of his endless mercy To give me respite my life to amend; From the bottom of my heart I repent my iniquity, I will walk in his laws unto my life's end: From his holy ordinance I will never descend, But my whole delight shall be to live therein, Utterly abhorring all filthiness and sin.[169]
_All Christian_ people which be here present, _May learn_ by me hypocrisy to know, _With_ which the devil, as with a poison most pestilent, Daily seeketh all men to overthrow: Credit not all things unto the outward show, But try them with G.o.d's word, that squire[170] and rule most just, Which never deceiveth them, that in him put their trust.
Let no flattering friends.h.i.+p, nor yet wicked company, Persuade you in no wise G.o.d's word to abuse; But see that you stand steadfastly unto the verity, And according to the rule thereof your doings frame and use, Neither kindred nor fellows.h.i.+p shall you excuse, When you shall appear before the judgment seat, But your own secret conscience shall then give an audit.
All you that be young, whom I do now represent, Set your delight both day and night on Christ's Testament: If pleasure you tickle, be not fickle, and suddenly slide, But in G.o.d's fear everywhere see that you abide: In your tender age seek for knowledge, and after wisdom run, And in your old age teach your family to do as you have done: Your bodies subdue unto virtue, delight not in vanity; Say not, I am young, I shall live long, lest your days shortened be: Do not incline to spend your time in wanton toys and nice, For idleness doth increase much wickedness and vice: Do not delay the time, and say, my end is not near; For with short warning the Lord coming shall suddenly appear.
G.o.d give us grace, his word to embrace, and to live thereafter, That by the same his holy name may be praised ever.
GOOD COUNSEL.
Now let us make our supplications together For the prosperous estate of our n.o.ble and virtuous king,[171]
That in his G.o.dly proceedings he may still persevere, Which seeketh the glory of G.o.d above all other thing: O Lord, endue his heart with true understanding, And give him a prosperous life long over us to reign, To govern and rule his people as a worthy captain.
JUVENTUS.
Also let us pray for all the n.o.bility of this realm; And, namely, for those whom his[172] grace hath authorised To maintain the public wealth over us and them, That they may see his gracious acts published; And that they, being truly admonished By the complaint of them which are wrongfully oppressed, May seek reformation, and see it redressed.
GOOD COUNSEL.
Then shall this land enjoy great quietness and rest: And give unto G.o.d most hearty thanks therefore, To whom be honour, praise, and glory for evermore.[173]
JACK JUGGLER.
EDITION.