Comoedia A worke in Ryme contayning an Enter-lude of Myndes, witnessing the Mans Fall from God and Christ. Set forth by HN, and by him newly porused and amended. Translated out of Base-almaynes into English [by Christopher Vitell?] |
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 | I. |
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| II. |
| III. |
Pavsa III.
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| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IIII. |
| XVII. |
 | Comoedia |  |
Pavsa III.
The VI. Chapter.
A
Unregarding.How sayst thou ; Good-thinking; is not this handled tryckly?
Good-thinking.
Ye as I assure thee: we haue compast it quickly:
For when the Man was falne, and began once to lament/
Then was-ther noman found, that coulde him better content,
Then wee two suttle Spirits, which do ; in craft; excell.
Unregarding.
The Sysze of our Last, doth fitt their Foote right-well.
Wherfore with myne Eys, great Ioy I now beholde.
But the Man shall yet repent it, with Sorrows manyfolde:
For through vs, must he yet ; with Sighing; feare and tremble.
Good-thinking.
Peace/bring him into no Feare, but still with him dissemble.
For I wil perswade him, that his Understanding is very sounde/
And he shall weene, that ; through Good-thinking; he hath Wisdom founde.
For Good-thinkings Attonement, is pleasant to him indeede.
Therfore ; without Arguing; foorth-on let vs proceede:
For the Man doth towards vs, all his Longing sett.
Unregarding.
We two ; I perceaue; can all Men captiue gett:
How wyly soeuer they bee, into our Traps they fall.
18
Spirituall, Temporall Simpleons, and Clerks of great Report
B
Good-thinking.They do almost all ; for Succour; vnder our Wings resort
For we two generally ; of all Men; are the Gouernours.
But therin Cosen am I, the cheefe of the Commishonours:
For verely I Good-thinking, the greatest swaye do beare.
Through Good-thinking I deceaue, Man and Woman eury wheare.
Many lay People, do beleeue the suttle Sleights I frame.
Thear-are olso many Learned ones, that preache in my Name.
Thus am I ; among all Names; the Cheefest of Renowne.
Unregarding.
O Good-thinking, thou shalt not so disgrace and put me downe
For I am the First borne, and ; before the; begunne.
When Man grew vnregarding, and by falling, was vndunne/
Did he com first, into Good-thinkings Hands?
The Man ; being plaest, in the Best of all Landes;
Became ; euen-theare; Unregarding, in his Thoughts/
And Disobeyed God/by setting his Woord at noughts:
Takeing on him, Knowledg, in steede of the liueing Ueritee.
Thus ; by vnregarding; first, the Man grew to Debillitee:
And fel alway from God, in his owne Knowledg, going-astraye
All this haue I myself brought forth, as heere in breefe I saye.
Euen thus did I gett Power, heer-at take thou no storne.
And so after thatt, wert thou ; Good-thinking; borne.
Therfore keepe thou silence, in clayming Superioritee.
C
Good-thinking.But tell me ; Unregarding; what shewst thou heere for Auctoritee/
Like vnto Mee so fyne/that am helde as a Prophet, in eury Lande.
For tis now almost all Good-thinking, what any one doth Understande:
In this sort am I gotten, to be Cheefe aboue thee.
Unregarding.
How shouldst thou haue made the man beleeue anything if hee
Had not first ; through Mee; growen to be so negligent?
19
Freend Unregarding, what are thy pleasant Pads of Meryment?
They are nothiug-at-al, except my Exhortation be theare.
I haue surely caught euryone, with in Good-thinkings Snare.
For in Mee, then do almost all, seeke their Comfort at all Seasons.
And out Good-thinkings Theame, then do also frame ther Reasons.
Thus hast thou nothing like Mee, thou vnregarding Pratler.
Unregarding.
Thou mayst well holde thy peace, thou dissembling Tatler/
For with thy Babling, thou bringst Men into Afflictions store/
To that they ; by meanes of theer enuy each other very sore.
Thou makst the People rebellious, with thy Seede of Dissention.
But I Unregarding, do only Mirth frame and mencion.
So much ; thou Hipocrite; am I nobler then Thou.
D
Good-thinking.O but soft Unregarding/wheare is thy Holynes now?
Like-as I bring forth thesame, in fayned Hipocresy/
With the which, I do dayly, mingle my self ful craftely/
Among the Learned, the Wyse, and great of Estimacion.
Unregarding.
I am also mingled, with the high of Reputacion:
For I Unregarding, am the Worlds delytfull Melody.
Good-thinking.
But yet I Good-thinking, am the Headd of their Hipocrisy/
Which do al-tymes set forth, fayned Holynes to be enured.
Unregarding.
Now thear art thou wyde/for I haue ; vnder my Power; allured.
The Worlde with her Wyse, both Men and Women, fitt/
That liue Unregarding, and Folly do committ/
And of thy good-thinking Holynes, their recning is but small/
19
With thy suttly Deuices, which thou dost forge and set-out.
E
Good-thinking.I perceaue wel that we two, can rule all rounde-about,
With our directions, in Worldly and Spirituall, likewyse:
Though then all liue ; through vs; in neuer so beastly Gyse/
Thatt is not regarded, men may perceaue it truly.
Unregarding.
But if a Man fayne himself, and go to Church duly/
Then is he well accounted of, though his Godnes be not much.
Good-thinking.
Yea, he shoulde soone be caught by the Throte, if he were any such,
That oughts, but what Good-thinking aloweth, shoulde like-of and defende.
Unregarding.
But Whoso ; Unregarding, and Good thinking; doth commende/
Hee reioyceth greatly, because he doth honour vs twayne,
But in our filthy Uices, and Workes peruerse and vayne,
Wee Two are doutles, the cheefe Ministers of Hell.
Good-thinking.
Then let vs equall Fellowes bee, and both together dwell:
And giue me now thy hande, in this League of our Equallitee.
And I wil no more aboue thee, clayme the Principalitee:
But alwayes by thy Syde, wil waite, euen hande-in-hande.
Unregarding.
Then let vs no more each other, enuyously withstande:
But be mery still together, and in nowyse to Lament:
To the ende that our Kingdom, in peeces be not rent.
For we continue vnreproued in the Generation of Men.
20
The VII. Chapter.
A
Good-thinking.Heere cometh Playne-and-iust.
Unregarding.
Wilt thou go and meete with him then/
And as a mery Companyon, greete him in freendly fashon?
Good-thinking.
Saluted be thou my Freende, for thou art of our Occupashon,
Com on, and heere with vs, thyself to Mirth now giue.
Playne-and-iust:
As my Thoughts direct mee, in that sort do I liue:
Looke what shee teacheth Mee, that Lesson do I ymmitate.
Unregarding.
O princly Cogitations, thyself refresh and recreate/
Delyte thee now in Labour ; with vs; without Delaye:
Let what soeuer greeueth thee, without the Wicket staye,
Take now thyne owne Choyse, in Uoluptuus-exercise.
Regarde no vertuous Manners, but do them all dispise:
Nor ceasse not ; in Ioye; to increase and still to growe.
Good-thinking.
Feare not, I wil teache Playne-and-iust well, I trewe/
To haue Good-thinking, in his Thoughts or Memory.
For then shalt thou still, be sure to haue the Uictory.
See thou remember this, thats heere to thee set-downe.
B
Cogitacions.Wee humbly thank you both, ye Wyseones of Renowne.
For ye haue shewd vs Fauour, and not dismayd vs at-all.
Playne-and-iust.
Ther is nothing that doth better, to our Lyking fall/
Then ; in the Wynde; to let all blowe at venture wylde/
20
As we haue heere to that effect, had good Informacion.
Cogitacions.
Wee must alwayes giue you both, worthy Comendation/
And account Good-thinking, for our graue Counseler:
For of our Greefe and Anguise, hee is the Disburthener:
Let vs therfore accorde together, in one consent of Mynde.
C
Good-thinking.Go-to, we wil be mery, with this Gayne that heere we fynde,
Our Spinning is not easy, to reele ; as I suppose;:
Though men, from many Parishes, therunto were chose/
Yet shoulde they not in hast, our snarled Worke vnwynde.
Com on now ; Unregarding; display thee in thy kynde,
Make vs now som Mirth/grounde suerly thy Forte:
Let vs sing, spring, and daunce/and make a litle Sporte:
And then let vs eate awhile, and drinke without all Measure/
So may we forgett the tyme, with Ioye and worldly Pleasure.
The VIII. Chapter.
A
Heere do these fovver Parsonages take-each other by the hande, and daunce: and from-vvith-in, or out-from-aboue, one singeth this Song ensuing, befoore: and then ; in dauncing-maner; these fovver Parsonages sing it after him: or els, Vnregarding singeth it first or before.
A
Now
make you mery and reioyce/
And harken duly to my Uoyce/
What I shall vtter now:
The Man he was created free/
And voyde of any Plantasee/
That must I shewe to you.
And harken duly to my Uoyce/
What I shall vtter now:
The Man he was created free/
And voyde of any Plantasee/
That must I shewe to you.
In Freedom was he sett likwyse/
Whear no Berashou mought aryse/
Had he bode at that staye:
But Subtilte becam his Mate:
The Searhing, as you [illeg.]
Loose his free Lyfe awaye.
Whear no Berashou mought aryse/
Had he bode at that staye:
But Subtilte becam his Mate:
The Searhing, as you [illeg.]
Loose his free Lyfe awaye.
21
His
subtill Counsayle forth did flowe/
And sought both Good and Euell to knowe/
To becom like God in Might:
Now when the Man tooke-on this Deede/
Then brought he foorth his false Seede:
Playne-and-iust must dye then quight.
And sought both Good and Euell to knowe/
To becom like God in Might:
Now when the Man tooke-on this Deede/
Then brought he foorth his false Seede:
Playne-and-iust must dye then quight.
B
He liked well a lofty
Mynde/
Wherin he stole, from God so kynde,
His Honour/and woulde be free.
He hasted that he mought be wyse
And prudent/foe to enterpryse/
His owne Lorde for to bee.
Wherin he stole, from God so kynde,
His Honour/and woulde be free.
He hasted that he mought be wyse
And prudent/foe to enterpryse/
His owne Lorde for to bee.
But then was he captiued the more,
With greeuous Bands and cumbers store/
He Selfues did prouyde.
Therin did he proceede and trust:
In Searching then ; with Longing; must,
Good-thinking be his Gyde.
With greeuous Bands and cumbers store/
He Selfues did prouyde.
Therin did he proceede and trust:
In Searching then ; with Longing; must,
Good-thinking be his Gyde.
Good-thinkings
Plague ; which I resyte;
Is altogether the Worlds Delyte/
The Trueth from her is taken:
Without Lamenting, still they liue/
And vnto Stryfe, themselues do giue/
The Peace, hath them forsaken.
Is altogether the Worlds Delyte/
The Trueth from her is taken:
Without Lamenting, still they liue/
And vnto Stryfe, themselues do giue/
The Peace, hath them forsaken.
C
Hate and
Enuy euery-wheare,
Now the greatest Swaye doth beare/
Trueth must not speake nor moue:
Now raigneth Mocking and Deryding/
Persecuting, Slaundring, with Upbreyding:
But inuisible goeth the Loue.
Now the greatest Swaye doth beare/
Trueth must not speake nor moue:
Now raigneth Mocking and Deryding/
Persecuting, Slaundring, with Upbreyding:
But inuisible goeth the Loue.
Beloved Wight of worthy Fame/
Consider well of all thissame:
Ensue the Loues Comunyaltye:
If that the Trueth com to thy sight/
Be simple like a Childe, aright/
With Warynes continually.
Consider well of all thissame:
Ensue the Loues Comunyaltye:
If that the Trueth com to thy sight/
Be simple like a Childe, aright/
With Warynes continually.
21
The IX. Chapter.
Heer do the fovver Parsonages sit them dovvne, and eate and drink.
Lamentacion.
A
Oh
Anguish/oh ruful-state and Misery/
Oh blynde Man, that art so ignorant vtterly:
Now foolishly, dost thou wander astraye!
Thou art growen corrupt, like the Lazer most filthy/
Which art from the Headd, to the Foote-sole ; I saye;
Altogether deformed/thou canst it not denaye:
Ther is suerly in all thy Members, not any sounde part.
Moreouer, thou hast yeelded; to Unregardings Waye/
And into Good-thinkings Path, farr entred thou art.
Oh! Playne-and-iust, lyeth vnder now in Smart:
And Good-thinking , the-whyles; teacheth Ignorance & Tangling.
I must this Daye lament it, with Wofulnes-of-hart:
Oh! When shall the Man, becom Understanding?
Oh blynde Man, that art so ignorant vtterly:
Now foolishly, dost thou wander astraye!
Thou art growen corrupt, like the Lazer most filthy/
Which art from the Headd, to the Foote-sole ; I saye;
Altogether deformed/thou canst it not denaye:
Ther is suerly in all thy Members, not any sounde part.
Moreouer, thou hast yeelded; to Unregardings Waye/
And into Good-thinkings Path, farr entred thou art.
Oh! Playne-and-iust, lyeth vnder now in Smart:
And Good-thinking , the-whyles; teacheth Ignorance & Tangling.
I must this Daye lament it, with Wofulnes-of-hart:
Oh! When shall the Man, becom Understanding?
Oh, Ignorance! how canst thou ouer the Man thus raigne,
That he can nothing-els, vnderstand, learne, nor gayne/
But thatt wherto Good-thinking, doth dayly him direct.
Self-will, doth likewyse, increase in him amayne.
He reioyceth in Self-myndednes, and wil it not reiect.
Enuyousnes and Crueltee, he doth prayse and much respect.
To persecute innocent Blood, hee is also redy and gladd.
He is soone mooued-to-fury, and grinneth ; in effect;
At Another, like a Dogg, thats fierce and raging-madd.
Oh! Wheare is now I pray you, the sweete Loue to be hadd?
When shall Man therby be cured, is now my Demanding?
Who ; without Gods Kingdom; is growen foolish too-too-badd,
Oh! when shall the Man, becom Understanding?
That he can nothing-els, vnderstand, learne, nor gayne/
But thatt wherto Good-thinking, doth dayly him direct.
Self-will, doth likewyse, increase in him amayne.
He reioyceth in Self-myndednes, and wil it not reiect.
Enuyousnes and Crueltee, he doth prayse and much respect.
To persecute innocent Blood, hee is also redy and gladd.
He is soone mooued-to-fury, and grinneth ; in effect;
At Another, like a Dogg, thats fierce and raging-madd.
Oh! Wheare is now I pray you, the sweete Loue to be hadd?
When shall Man therby be cured, is now my Demanding?
Who ; without Gods Kingdom; is growen foolish too-too-badd,
Oh! when shall the Man, becom Understanding?
B
It seemes as if the Kingdom of God were locked quight/
And also that God, with his heauenly Hoste-of-might,
Had withdrawen his Grace, from the Man, cleane-awaye:
For He suffereth the Man, to follow his owne Delight/
Permitting him to doo, what he lusteth to assaye.
Oh/what a number of Greefes, hath he suckt, to his decaye:
Liueing after his Pleasure, in Good-thinkings vayne Race:
And is Also vtterly
vnfaythfull, in all what he maye.
For one doth wrong another, with Crafty-gyle, apace.
Oh/sore to be lamented, is the Mans vnrestfull Case.
Those that now seeke Peace, are counted Wicked, in Errour wandring.
And of the Loue, ther is no Mencion heard in any place.
Oh! When shall the Man, becom Understanding?
And also that God, with his heauenly Hoste-of-might,
Had withdrawen his Grace, from the Man, cleane-awaye:
For He suffereth the Man, to follow his owne Delight/
Permitting him to doo, what he lusteth to assaye.
Oh/what a number of Greefes, hath he suckt, to his decaye:
Liueing after his Pleasure, in Good-thinkings vayne Race:
22
For one doth wrong another, with Crafty-gyle, apace.
Oh/sore to be lamented, is the Mans vnrestfull Case.
Those that now seeke Peace, are counted Wicked, in Errour wandring.
And of the Loue, ther is no Mencion heard in any place.
Oh! When shall the Man, becom Understanding?
O eternall Prince, God almighty Father-on-hy!
To thee only must it be, complayned vehemently,
That the Man is thus falne, into so many Infirmityes:
And yet not once myndfull, nor wil thesame espy,
That hee, from his God, is departed in such-wyse.
Declyned from the louely Trueth, and bent to follow Lyes.
He hath take vpon him, an High-mynde to entertayne:
Quyte reiecting Playne-and-iust, in this his Enterprise.
Oh! that the Man mought now, turne to his God agayne/
That same shoulde him iustify, from Sinne that so doth raigne:
Walking playne and iust, worthy of Commending:
So mought he then liue, without all Feare or Payne.
Oh! when shall the Man, becom Understanding?
To thee only must it be, complayned vehemently,
That the Man is thus falne, into so many Infirmityes:
And yet not once myndfull, nor wil thesame espy,
That hee, from his God, is departed in such-wyse.
Declyned from the louely Trueth, and bent to follow Lyes.
He hath take vpon him, an High-mynde to entertayne:
Quyte reiecting Playne-and-iust, in this his Enterprise.
Oh! that the Man mought now, turne to his God agayne/
That same shoulde him iustify, from Sinne that so doth raigne:
Walking playne and iust, worthy of Commending:
So mought he then liue, without all Feare or Payne.
Oh! when shall the Man, becom Understanding?
C
Oh! that he coulde rightly, reade the Scripture, for his learning/And discerned the Euell, wherto he doth so cleaue:
And ; wherto God created him; did likewyse perceaue.
And so then had a Lust ; with all his Hearts intent;
To learne ; in humble maner; to stande obedient,
Toward Gods liueing Woord, as his Cleernes doth requyre:
And euenso Gods Trueth, did knowe, and still desyer/
Then were he set-free, from all the Deuils Bands.
And Peace should-ther bee, likewyse in all Lands.
For ; by Gods Understanding; were then all Gouernment.
O eternall Wisdom/O heauenly Gyant omnipotent/
Make knowen now vnto mee (like a Prouident discerner)
Wherfore the Man hath thus, reiected his Preseruer/
And also his Saluacion ; that heauenly ioyfull Crowne;
For Men may playnly see, in eury Citee and Towne/
Nothing-els byt Ignorance, to haue the Dominashon.
Also, the Man is Unregarding, in Tryumphing-fashon:
And Good-thinking hath likewyse, captiud his Heart ful-strong.
So that after Gods Trueth, he doth not rightly long.
Oh/Pinching-pangs, this Sorrow breaks my Hart.
Make knowen now vnto mee (like a Prouident discerner)
Wherfore the Man hath thus, reiected his Preseruer/
And also his Saluacion ; that heauenly ioyfull Crowne;
For Men may playnly see, in eury Citee and Towne/
Nothing-els byt Ignorance, to haue the Dominashon.
Also, the Man is Unregarding, in Tryumphing-fashon:
22
So that after Gods Trueth, he doth not rightly long.
Oh/Pinching-pangs, this Sorrow breaks my Hart.
Oh! that it mought now, chance to me for my part
That God woulde rayse-vp, the Understanding, vnto mee:
And cleerly discouer, the Trueth, that I mought see,
Wherfore the Man remayneth, thus plaged euery-waye:
For the Mans Calamitee, doth much my Heart dismaye.
And I am throwly greeued, euen inwardly, therfore.
That God woulde rayse-vp, the Understanding, vnto mee:
And cleerly discouer, the Trueth, that I mought see,
Wherfore the Man remayneth, thus plaged euery-waye:
For the Mans Calamitee, doth much my Heart dismaye.
And I am throwly greeued, euen inwardly, therfore.
The X. Chapter.
A
Understanding.Be comforted ; thou Lamenter; and vex thy mynde nomore.
For though thou searchest much, it shall not thee avayle:
For ye Man hath forsaken, both God & his Counsayle/
Through the Knowledg, so greatly exercised/
Which ; by his owne Mocion; he hath enterprised:
Agaynst the Comaundement of God, who liueth in eternytee.
Therfore is he alwayes, Resisting verylee,
The true Obedience, requyred by his Woord:
And woulde likewyse ; with his Speaches most-absurd;
That his owne knowing Wisdom, in place of Gods mought stande.
But so long now as the Man, is not got-out of that Bande
Of his Owne-wisdom/he doth in Errour byde.
And from the Grace of God, is seperated wyde.
For, how wyse soeuer the Man ; in his Purchase; is bocom/
Yet must he first of all, dye from his owne Wisdom/
Ere that he ; the Understanding, of God; can com-by.
Therfore his owne Wisdom, must he forsake and fly,
Confessing before God, to haue no Understanding, a right:
Nor to know wheare God worketh, with his Hande of Might.
Nor yet can comprehende, Gods Works in their Degree.
Lamentacion.
Oh! this same now can the Man, in nowyse rightly see/
Because that his Longing, to the Knowledg is inclyned.
For each-one cometh-forth, with what he hath gott and guyned
23
For the Man can not otherwyse, conceaue it in his Mynde,
But that ye Knowledg ; through Searching; must becom learned.
B
Understanding.Therfore also his Heart, quit away-is turned
From God/to the High Wisdom, of Mans owne Industery.
For so long as the Man, bydeth deafe heerin vtterly/
And wil not stande submitted ; in God; obediently:
Neither yet forsaketh, his owne Comodity:
Nor also the Knowledg, with all her Stock and Broode/
So wil not God likewyse, giue ; into him; his Foode.
For God ; in true Knowledg; is only wyse, no dout[illeg.]
No man, can Gods Wisdom, declare or measure-out:
For God doth keepe his Wisdom, secret ; as is fitt;
From all the Careful-study, of Mans Ingenious-witt.
For when ye Man seeketh after Gods Misteryes that are hidden,
Through the meane of Knowledg, which is to him forbidden/
Wherby to becom like God, in Understanding excelent/
So then likewyse ; being proude in his Heart, and impudent;
He ; most arrogantly; into Gods Work doth thrust.
Also then iniuryously, suppresteth Playne-and-iust:
And so ; in Gods Wisdom; a very Foole is founde.
C
Lamentacion.Oh! Now is the Trueth to mee, opened from the grounde:
But dispise not yet I praye thee, my farder Comunicacien:
For I am still much greeued, in my Cogitacion.
Therfore I must yet aske thee, with Woords of great Feruency:
Wherfore doth the Man, liue thus extreeme vnquyetly?
How cometh it to pas/that he feeleth not his Misery?
For whersoeuer I turne me (to tell thee now the Uerety)
I fynde no Loue at-all, I must it needes disclose:
But Mocking and Deryding, euery-wheare now floes/
Also Curssing, Swearing, Lying, and Reuyling/
Hatred or Enuy, and Falshod with Begyling/
Hipocricie, Sects, and Dissencion, out of-measure/
Uiolence, and Crueltie, voyde of Ioye or Pleasure/
Ambition, Oppression, with Deuouring ful sore/
Also high Wisdom, and New-inuencious, store/
With much Contending, Arguing, and Disputing/
23
Much Babling, Betraing, and Witnissing-vnright.
The Simplicitee must ; euery-wheare; bow vnder quyt:
Pryde, and Lightmyndednes, are also in Request/
Blaspheaming, and Persecuting/this causeth much Unrest:
Warr, Battell, and Rebellyon: who can the same now byde?
The Learned are at Discorde, and themselues in Parts deuyde:
Ther are likwyse Many, towards another, fiersly bent:
And to the Requyring of Gods Woorde, are disobedient.
The Subiects do their Rulers, resist and dispise.
And the Scholers, their masters Doctrine, likewyse.
Ther is no wheare true Concorde, but fayned Disscimulashon.
Now when I in my Heart, had all this in considerashon/
Then desyred I gladly, to haue som Information:
Wherfore the Man doth liue, thus voyde of Edification.
What is the cause he knoweth it not? tell me I thee praye.
Wherfore doth he choose the thing, that greeueth him alwaye:
And not that which is the Louelyest, and the very Best?
D
Understanding.
This doth not the Man, comprehend,
till at the last/
When as he, with willing Obedience (mark what I resite)
Is inclynd to the Seruice of Loue, with all his hearts Delyte:
And so ; through the Seruice of Loue, that euermore doth last;
To the vertuous Will of his God, is incorporated fast.
For being without Gods Wil, in Self-lust he leads his Lyfe/
Seekeing only his owne Will, with much Unrest and Strife.
And so long as he therin, captured doth remayne/
He shall not any Loue, neither Peace, obtayne.
When as he, with willing Obedience (mark what I resite)
Is inclynd to the Seruice of Loue, with all his hearts Delyte:
And so ; through the Seruice of Loue, that euermore doth last;
To the vertuous Will of his God, is incorporated fast.
For being without Gods Wil, in Self-lust he leads his Lyfe/
Seekeing only his owne Will, with much Unrest and Strife.
And so long as he therin, captured doth remayne/
He shall not any Loue, neither Peace, obtayne.
For his Owne-will, doth wholly him begyle/
And his taken-on Knowledg, doth him with Lyes ; defyle.
All Aduisement, doth Unregarding, awaye from him now take/
And his owne Good-thinking, doth him contencious make:
His Highmyndednes, make him, rebellyous stout and bolde.
Euen thus then the Man, in the Loue becometh colde.
And then both Loue and Peace, he doth vtterly abhorr/
Reiecting that which is playne.
And his taken-on Knowledg, doth him with Lyes ; defyle.
All Aduisement, doth Unregarding, awaye from him now take/
And his owne Good-thinking, doth him contencious make:
His Highmyndednes, make him, rebellyous stout and bolde.
Euen thus then the Man, in the Loue becometh colde.
And then both Loue and Peace, he doth vtterly abhorr/
Reiecting that which is playne.
E
Lamentacion.Oh, therfore hath the Man, to wayt duly for
24
Oh! who shall cause the Man, Understanding, for to taste/
That mought release him, from his greuous Smart?
Understanding.
If eueryone woulde enter, into his owne Heart/
And dealt in sucht-sort, as he woulde be dealt withall:
If Loue and Peace were sought, both of Great and Small:
And woulde eueryone becom, the Least, and not the Cheefe:
Then shoulde the Man right-soone, be cured of his Greefe.
His Loue shoulde also bee, like a Fyer that is glowing:
And God shoulde then likewyse ; with his Grace, ouerflowing;
Be working in the Man/as Hee was wont to doo.
Lamentacion.
O God Father/vouch safe to strenghten vs thertoo:
For, to that ende wil we go proffer ourselues vnto the Man/
To see if his Heart therto, stirr-vpp or mooue we can/
With the holy Scripture, which thou doest witnes playne:
That happly he ; by thar meanes; mought vet once agayne
Suck the right Knowledg, of the godly Uerety.
The XI. Chapter.
A
Understanding.Oh , Man! How liust thou thus, in Greefe and Misery?
That thou thinkest not on God, Who now is heere a declared/
He which hath Heauen and Earth, created and prepared.
Cogitacions.
Oh! ther was neuer anything, that mee so vext and feared,
As the Uoyce that I now heare, sounding in myne Eare.
Good-thinking.
Oh/alas alas! What is it, that troubles vs theare?
The hearing of such Woords, small Iove doth bring to mee.
24
Tush, regarde it not, it is but Phantasee.
Wherfore let not your Hearts, therto inclyne or bow.
Lamentacion.
O Cogitacions, aryse I praye thee now/
And reade vs the Scripture, set-foorth in Letters cleere.
B
Cogitacions.Oh! I praye thee, do thou, rehearse it to vs heere/
The whiles we be present, altogether assembled.
Understanding.
Harken-too then/let not your Hearts be combred.
God hath ; by the Scripture; commanded vs each-one/
To haue no strainge Gods, besydes Hym alone:
For Hee is God only, and Creator of all.
God hath ; by the Scripture; commanded vs each-one/
To haue no strainge Gods, besydes Hym alone:
For Hee is God only, and Creator of all.
Also, that no man, be he Great or Small/
Shall in any wyse, vse his Name in vayne.
They shall in their Hearts, furdermore retayne/
That they do sanctify, the Lords Gabboth daye.
Eueryone in like sort ; so much as he maye;
Shall dutifully honour, his Father and his Mother:
And not seeke iniuryously, to kill or hurt another.
Shall in any wyse, vse his Name in vayne.
They shall in their Hearts, furdermore retayne/
That they do sanctify, the Lords Gabboth daye.
Eueryone in like sort ; so much as he maye;
Shall dutifully honour, his Father and his Mother:
And not seeke iniuryously, to kill or hurt another.
Man and Wyfe also, shall keepe themselues warely/
That they in any case, do not commit Adultery.
Moreouer, in Theeuery, men shall in no wyse liue:
Nor yet against Anyone, false Testimony giue.
They shall liue reasonable, without any Abuce.
And shall likewyse couet, nomans Howse, to their Bee.
Nor his Wyfe/nor yet anything, that Another-man doth owe/
Now looke into yourselues, whether ye haue liued thus or noe.
That they in any case, do not commit Adultery.
Moreouer, in Theeuery, men shall in no wyse liue:
Nor yet against Anyone, false Testimony giue.
They shall liue reasonable, without any Abuce.
And shall likewyse couet, nomans Howse, to their Bee.
Nor his Wyfe/nor yet anything, that Another-man doth owe/
Now looke into yourselues, whether ye haue liued thus or noe.
Playne-and-iust.
Our Heart quaketh/we haue not knowen of this.
C
Cogitacions.Oh! We haue consumed, our tyme farr a mys/
Also, cleane forgotten God, in his Power most conuenient/
25
But thir wicked Fame or Credit, wil we now dispise.
Playne-and-iust.
Away thou Unregarding, with thy Counsayle, full of Lyes.
Cogitacions.
And thou likewyse Good-thinking, with thy wiked Fruits and Plants.
Unregarding.
Alact, alact: into what Coasts ; sith heere our Credit wants;
Shall we poore Seruitours, go now for to remayne?
Good thinking.
Wo be to vs, wo be to vs, for we shall suerly be slayne/
Now that the Man doth know, our Wyles & Suttle craftynes.
Lamentacion.
Och/Man! remember yet, thy Folly & wicked Naughtynes:
And reioyce the only in God, and in Him becom renewed.
For the tyme of Ignorance, God hath ouer-viewed.
And now commandeth all Men, with good Aduertisment/
That they ; for their Sinnes; shoulde vnfaynedly repent:
Because that He, a certaye Daye hath sett/
On which He wil urdge now without all Lett
The Circuit of the Earth, with Righteousnes and Equytee.
Playne-and-iust.
O Lorde God, remember now, our ignorant Simplicitee/
And extende towards vs, thy fauorable Grace.
D
Cogitacions.Oh/that we haue liued thus ; in Euell; all this space:
Wheare shall we now becom, in this miserable Calamyte?
Understanding.
Turne your Hearts cleane about, in penitent Humilitee/
Yea, turne them now, to God the Lorde, perpetuall
25
For the same shall rightly, reioyce you at the Hart.
Beleeue also the Trueth/and set it not apart:
To thend ye may becom, a New reformed Creature/
Through Iesus Christ, as Gods very Figure.
See that you haue thissame, alwayes before your Eyes.
Lamentacion.
Take you heede of all false Inticements, likewyse/
Which, a false Opinion, in you forth do bring.
Haue regarde vnto the worde, be not Weakned in that thing.
And ; in all your Knowledg; be likewyse humble and meeke.
Understanding.
Beholde/theare haue you the Lawe, and the Prophets [illeg.]eke/
Which do teach and direct you, to the Waye of Trueth aright:
The Gospell doth testify, to you the Cleernes bright,
Which God ; to such as Loue Him; hath promysed for to giue.
Thus behaue you vprightly, and in this good State now liue.
For we wil go-on our Iorney, as our Waye doth vs gyde
The XII. Chapter.
A
Playne-and-iust.To this, must we let our vnderstanding firmly byde.
Read vs the Gospel, that sweetly doth accorde:
Cogitacions.
Giue-eare then: In the Beginning, was the
Holy Worde
The Word was with God/discomende not this.
All is made ther-through, what soeuer is.
And in the same Woorde, is the Lyfe contayned.
The Word was with God/discomende not this.
All is made ther-through, what soeuer is.
And in the same Woorde, is the Lyfe contayned.
Also, Iohn ; in his Epistle; hath written and explayned/
(The which is very true, and certayne; doutles)
That God is a Light, without any Darknes/
Let vs now consider, of thissame in our Hearts.
(The which is very true, and certayne; doutles)
That God is a Light, without any Darknes/
Let vs now consider, of thissame in our Hearts.
26
Ther through do I feele, in my inwarde parts/
A cleere Knowledg of Christ, the Reconciler of Mankynde/
That Hee only is, our Satisfyer assynde.
Lo: I am ; by thy Reading; becom Understanding thorowly.
B
Cogitacions.I ask also ; by the same; a new-Wisdom, verely/
And ; in myne Understanding; am now assured of this/
That Those which reade the Scripture, can in nowyse mysse:
For ther through becom we wyse, with Feates of wyly Skill.
Now, Such as aske vs Question, we can answere, at our will/
And can testify of God likewyse, through the Scripture playne.
Playne-and-iust.
Beholde: Now are we growen, rightly wyse, certayne:
For we can now iudg, the Opinions of Eueryone:
And knows how to shewe althings, with the Scripture alone.
For we can now ; after our Custom; iudg of each ones Fayth.
Cogitacions.
We wil go proue it all, if it be as the Scripture sayth/
So shall we be suer therby, not to fayle a Iote:
For we haue now the Scripture, euen readely by rote.
Therfore wil we lye lurking on our Bench and note
How to fetch: anyone/to prate it-out with Scripture euery wheare.
Good-thinking.
Yea/yea/wel-sayde: I heare a Draught a broching theare/
Euen of the same that wee ; in our Uessels; haue, no-dout.
Tell me Unregarding, hardst thou not thatt breake-out?
Good-thinking shall ; by the Scripture readers; be spread abroad ful-fitt.
C
Unregarding.I harde them speake of Thee indeede: but I am forgotten as-yet.
For I shall weare out-of-mynde, wheare Scripture coms inhande.
26
O, how exceeding wyse now, are wee in euery Lande/
Noman can worke vs Deceit, to bring vs to any Shame.
For we haue now the Scripture, according as thesame
Is spoken by the Prophets/Gods Messengers we call:
They teache vs, not to serue, any strainge Gods at-all.
The Apostles also witnes ; to our Consolation;
That Iesus Christ only, is fully our Saluation:
For he valiantly ouercame, the Siege that Sinne did laye/
So that our Sinnes are now, altogether wypt awaye.
Thissame ; for our Attonement; doth the Scripture witnes flatt.
D
Playne-and-iust.We shall not need likwyse, to add anything to Thatt/
Therfore, all sorowfull Mocions, let vs now forsake/
And on Christ Satisfaction, our Uaunting highly make/
And also liue, from hence forth, without any Sorow or Care.
Unregarding.
Yea/yea: becom vnregarding/so can I fetch you in my Snare.
Cumber not yourselues/about the Saluacion.
Cogitacions.
Com-on/let vs of the Scripture, go make Examinacion/
Whither it do not vnto vs, this Matter thus expounde.
We wil drawe it all therto, that theruppon doth sounde:
Then knowe we how to confirme it all, as Scripture manifests.
The XIII. Chapter.
A
Good-thinking.Go-to /ye are now falne agayne into our Nests.
Hah-hah-ha/how are they spotted with Good-thinkings Uayne.
Lo/now can none escape, the Hands of vs Twayne:
For we shall ketch them all, with our suttle Snare or Slipp.
Then shall all now runne, by heapes, into our Shipp/
27
We shall now gett them All, both Spirituall & Temporall Sort/
The Simpleones, the Wyse, and Such as learned bee/
Also those that are of no Account, and the Honoured of degree.
I know now very-well, how to deceaue them all by Suttlety.
Unregarding.
What fyne Remedy knowest thou?
Good-thinking.
That shall I seeke out of Good-thinkings Nest, ful-cuningly.
And dull their Hearing, with sectuarish Dissencion.
B
Unregarding.Peace Good-thinking, for none wil beleeue thy Inuencyon/
Which reade the Scripture, as I do now coniecter:
For when the Scripture cam abrode/& was heald for a Directer/
Then was it playnly founde, in Citee and in Towne/
That Unregarding and Good-thinking, were both put-downe.
Thus byde we ; at this present; dispised and brought lowe.
Good-thinking.
Yea, but I can tell, how to com in holy Showe/
Deceaueing the Wyse, which with Scripture largly deale:
Also all, that weare our Garments/and beare to vs a Seale/
Which Garments they haue, from vs, out of our Store:
Wherthrough they be self-willed, with vexing Cumbers, sore/
Also, enuyous in their Mynde, and wicked in their Talking:
When we now haue tryd, their Hearts and their Walking/
Then wil we keepe them company, like pleasant ieasting Mates.
Unregarding.
But I feare they wil not let, such Gests in at their Gates.
For they wil ; with the Scripture; shame vs, I suspect.
C
Good-thinking.
Tusch, no/the Wisdom of Man, is but a Tryfle, in effect/
How glistering holy, soeuer it doth appeere:
For, tis all before God, but filthy stinking-geere,
If they in their Hearts, humble be not founde/
Nor shewe-foorth any Loue, wherin they shoulde abounde/
As to be long suffering, and vnreuengfull also:
For those that be contencious, breake the Peace wheare they got
Reiecting ye right Doctrine, that to ye Loues Worke, doth serue.
Disobedient, as those, that from Christs Church, fall and swarue[illeg.]
And in all their Dealings, are puft-vp in Ambition.
How glistering holy, soeuer it doth appeere:
For, tis all before God, but filthy stinking-geere,
If they in their Hearts, humble be not founde/
Nor shewe-foorth any Loue, wherin they shoulde abounde/
27
For those that be contencious, breake the Peace wheare they got
Reiecting ye right Doctrine, that to ye Loues Worke, doth serue.
Disobedient, as those, that from Christs Church, fall and swarue[illeg.]
And in all their Dealings, are puft-vp in Ambition.
Also those that seeke themselues, in eury Condition/
Those that in their Gouernment, wil no body forbeare/
Nor suffer any but such, as them do please and feare.
Those that account the Humilitee, to be of no Estimashon
All These that take-in-hande, the Scripture after this fashon/
To them must [illeg.] seeme to be loueing, with a freendly Cheere[illeg.]
For to them are we acceptable, and esteemed-of ful-deers.
But yet (to begin-withall) I must first chaunge my Name/
Then can none bring me vnder, nor worke me any Shame.
But I shall deceaue them all ; in their Lyfe; without fayle.
Those that in their Gouernment, wil no body forbeare/
Nor suffer any but such, as them do please and feare.
Those that account the Humilitee, to be of no Estimashon
All These that take-in-hande, the Scripture after this fashon/
To them must [illeg.] seeme to be loueing, with a freendly Cheere[illeg.]
For to them are we acceptable, and esteemed-of ful-deers.
But yet (to begin-withall) I must first chaunge my Name/
Then can none bring me vnder, nor worke me any Shame.
But I shall deceaue them all ; in their Lyfe; without fayle.
Unregarding.
How wilt thou name thyself?
D
Good-thinking.The Spirits Inspiring/so shall I best preuayle:
For the Man maketh doutles, no Difference or Destintting,
Betwixt the true Spirit, and the Worke of Goodthinking.
Thus doth the Man ; as-yet; our owne Kernell safe remayne.
Unregarding.
O ; deere Cosen; such a Name, woulde I haue veryfayne:
Tell me I beseeche thee, wilt thou now leaue my Company?
Good-thinking.
O no in any-wyse, but with me euen mutually,
Must thou ; by som holy thing; be named in like-ease.
So then ; as it is meete; we byde together in euery place:
And shall euenso then, reioyce the Man most-cheefly.
Unregarding.
Yea/how shall I be called?
E
Good-thinking.The free Spirit/I saye breefly:
Which must boldly without feare, count himself holy and pure.
28
All Man ; in their Understanding; to deceaue and leade awrye.
For once, the Spirits Inspiring, may in nowyse lye:
And the free Spirit, can by no meanes sinne.
To publish this vnto them all, we wil now beginne.
And heerunto shall we Twayne, serue well together then.
Unregarding.
Uerely ; my gentle Cosen; therto I saye, Amen.
Now me thinks thou speakest, the Trueth to good effect/
Thus byde I still with thee, do not me reiect.
For I hope we shall brew Wonderful matter yet.
The XIIII. Chapter.
A
Good-thinking.We Two (I warrant thee) wil not faynt-a-whitt.
For as they call mee now, Thinspiring of the holy Goste/
So do those worke great Wonders, that highly do them boste:
And thee, to be the Spirit, that perfect is and free/
We shalbe Both accounted now, Unspotted ones to bee/
Euen as those which fall not into any naughty Sinne.
Unregarding.
Hah-hah-ha/That is a fyne Remedy, & cuningly brought in/
As heere it doth appere now, for our Purpose passing-right.
O-ho! This shalbe to many Men, a Comfort and Delighte,
Which, to the Loue of Righteousnes, haue no good regarde:
Good-thinking.
Namely: To the Couetous, that seeke Gifts or Rewarde.
And go to teache the Scripture, for fylthy Gayne & Treasure/
Because they woulde liue ydly, after their owne Mynds pleasure/
Also all, that flatter the feeble Sheepe, from the right Foulde.
Those that ; with Compulcion; wil the Conscience captiue[illeg.]oulde.
28
In their manly Knowledg, Gods Trueth to gett or fynde.
All, which perswade themselues, that they are throwly-learned,
And ; after their owne Knowledg; wil liue free and vnbrydled.
Also all, that do themselues, on their owne Knowledg grounde/
And with their false venemous Mouthes ; mischeuous of Sounde;
The Entrance into the Christian Beeing, do withstande & refuse.
As likewyse all Disobedient ones, that much Reading do vse/
And which ; after their owne Knowledg; themselues do still teache/
Turning thatt Doctrine to the worst, which the Loue doth preache.
Yea, and those, which the Scripture; like a Topp; about do [illeg.]wle.
O! We haue yet many more, contayned in our Scrowle/
Which after the Spirits-inspiring, by Good-thinking, do liue.
B
Unregarding.And to me Unregarding, then high Exaltacion giue:
For I am the Free-spirit, as I by thee do heare.
Eueryone may now deale, like a Foole, and neede not feare/
Re[illeg.]eing with Unregarding, in his Forest that is so wyde:
And fa[illeg.]e: with the free Spirit, then may no Sinne abyde.
For no man, to accuse vs, da[illeg.]e once be so bolde.
Whose likewyse ; after our Mynde; with vs wil not holde/
But shall speake against vs, and saye that we proceede,
In the fal[illeg.]e Freedom/and haue not ; as we reede;
Performed the Obedience, to the Gayning of the Loue/
Yea, though of the Loues Family, or Howsholde then shoulde proue/
Towards them, we wil showe, no Loue nor Freendly-cheere.
Good-thinking.
If any man blaspheame vs, himself he may not cleere/
In the same flourishing tyme, wherin wee thus do rayne.
It shall also now fal out, to nomans ease nor gayne,
That wil openly dispise vs, and seeme on vs to lower:
For we Two [illeg.] now, gotten vs mighty Power/
Through those People that serue vs, in our Affayres that we doo.
Yea, all the Worlde doth showe, loueing Freendship to vs Two
For she doth ernestly her owne, both loue and cate ensue.
29
Thatt is now well seene and knowen, that it is very-true:
For the most Number are mynded, with Us, euery wheare.
Good-thinking.
Are they not almost all now, gotten into our Snare?
Who is-ther now ; I praye you; left without our Bandes?
Are not wee esteemed, for the Cheefest, in all Landes?
They com to great Reproche, that against vs rebell.
C
Unregarding.All this ; my deere Cosen; we now perceaue right-well.
But we must go speedely, and follow our worthy Arte:
That we be not any-more, so feared in our Heart:
Spare not anyone, wherseuer thou comst-in-place,
With thy Good-thinking/but spread it theare a pace.
Practise now Subtiltee/and New-inuentions frame:
That we be no more put-downe, nor brought to any Shame.
Therfore now in Arguing, make Discorde and Debate/
Through thy Spirits Inspiring, with Disputing and with Prate.
Flourish-out thy Woords now, with smooth and gallant Phrase:
That the Grounde af the Trueth, be not knowen in any-case.
And I Unregarding, wil them well to mee allure.
Good-thinking.
Gowe then together, we wil so temper it to procure,
That they shall very well disgest our Gobbetts euery bitt:
For to vs, this kynde of Dealing, cannot be teadious a whitt.
We wil now go streaw abrode, our Uenom in eury Wynde:
That we may by that meanes, deuour all what we fynde.
Unregarding.
We shall blynde & catch them all. We need not to dout it/
We Two together, match them shall. Therfore gowe about it.
Pavsa IIII.
The XV. Chapter.
29
Conclvsion.
A
Longing-for-comfort.Oh /wonderfull Things, haue I now hearde heere vttered!
O Good-informacion, therof instruct thou mee.
Good-information.
O Longing-for-comfort, wherin art thou yet combered:
Longing-for-comfort.
Oh/wonderfull Things, haue I now hearde heere vttered?
Good-information.
Let not thy Heart ; therwith; be anything distempered/
Ther is no wonderfull thing, I must disclose to thee.
Longing-for-comfort.
Oh/wonderful Things, howe I now heard heere vttered:
O Good-informacion, therof instruct thou mee.
And vnto me declare now, the D[illeg.]st of thissame Playe.
Good-information.
Let the Knowledg not to-much delyte thy Mynde I saye:
That thou com not into much Unrestfulnes therby.
Longing-for-comfort.
I hope well, No: For with a good Desyre woulde I
Uery-gladly now ; at large; euen simply knowe/
The Mynde of thissame Playe, if mee thou wouldst it showe:
And only thatt, to my Desyre, as I do heere declare.
B
Good-information.O longing-for-comfort, thatt is a good Intent and Care:
For Understanding is gotten, after such a Fashon.
But yet ther doth great Perrill, consist in Informashon:
Because many false Praters, are start-vp and beare swaye/
Which prate and report much, against the Loue, alwaye/
And also in that sort, their false Informations do sowe:
30
Euen for a peece of Bread/or a Handfull of Barly-grayne.
Longing-for-comfort.
Oh/wo is mee: To heare that, my Heart wil brake with payne?
Are-ther now in these Dayes, such Praters to be founde?
C
Good-information.Thatt may you well perceaue, by their Discords that abounde:
As likewyse by their Renting, Dissencion, and Deceate.
Longing-for-comfort.
This new passed-ouer: instruct me I thee intreate/
Of the Kynde of this Playe, that I may reioyce me than.
The XVI. Chapter.
A
Good-information.That is/that Playne-and-iust, hath God created Man/
To thend he shoulde serue Him, in all vpright Righteousnes/
To liue therin for euer, in Ioye and sweete Delightfulnes:
As likewyse, in all Loue, and reasonable Nature/
In Gods true Obedience, as Gods very Figure:
Cleaueing to the Trueth, that to the Lyfe doth all men gode.
And that is Gods Kingdom, voyde of Trembling & of Pryde/
Which God hath geeuen, into the Mans Hart/
When from he hath turned, to his greeuous Smart.
All which this Playe doth showe you (if it be wel regarded)
As also the Mans Wickednes, wherwith he is rewarded/
To sing as he, without Gods Kingdom, wandring doth remayne.
Thus marke ye Mynde, that is to thee, rehearsed breef & playne,
And [illeg.] repent thee for tho Synnes, to thy Iustification:
To thend that thou mayst com, in right Humiliacion
To the Kingdom of God, full of all Loue so meeke/
30
Full of Trueth of Righteousnes, and of Peace too.
Thus do thou still as thou wouldst, that men to thee should doe:
For to the Entrance into the Kingdom, thats the only Waye.
B
Longing-for-comfort.O Good informacion, I thanke thee what I maye,
Both for thy good Instruction, and fruitfull Exhortation.
But while we stande yet heere, together in Communicacion,
Somwhat more I must yet afte thee, euen bolde and ernestly:
Is it possible I pray thee, such great Deceite to occupy,
And so many wyly Snares, to laye in such a sort,
As this Playe hath now heer, made to vs Report,
Through Unregarding and Good thinkings Spirit or Goste?
Good-informacion.
O Yea no dout: and they can deceaue them moste,
Which seeme to be both wyse, and honorable also/
Lykewyse, the Highmynded and Enuyous, a[illeg.]o/
As also many Simpleones, with their crafty Suttletyes.
Euen thus they bring Men dayly, into many Miseryes:
And likewyse into Dissencion, one-another much disdayning/
Into Hatrid or Enuy, so that Pryde in them is raigning:
Thee Loue, and her Righteousnes, euen altogether comtemning.
Longing-for-comfort.
This perceaue I well now, after my simple Comprehending.
But yet one Poynt more, ful gladly know I woulde.
Good-informacion.
What Poynt is thatt?
C
Longing-for-comfort.I harde, that Unregarding, and Good-thinking, shoulde
Boldly presume ; with their suttle Snares or wyly Slights;
To seduce all sort, of People, with pleasant vayne Delights:
Also the Great knowers, in all what they deuise/
The Scriptur-leared-sort, and the worldly wyse:
And woulde bring them all into Errour, such was their Intent.
How shall I vnderstande thatt, I praye thee?
31
Consider of the Mynde, that this Playe doth heere present.
And I wil name them to thee ; whom they deceaue; by and-by.
Longing-for-comfort
Yea/who be they?
Good-informacion.
The Supposeing-true-sayers, that
euermore do lye:
All those that are largly, clothed with Self-will:
All, which cruell Enuy, do vtter from them still:
Those/that ; by false Deuices; the name wil seeme to haue/
That they haue fild themselues, full of Wisdom graue.
Who are also rightly rehearst, by Good-thinking a fore sayde.
All those that are largly, clothed with Self-will:
All, which cruell Enuy, do vtter from them still:
Those/that ; by false Deuices; the name wil seeme to haue/
That they haue fild themselues, full of Wisdom graue.
Who are also rightly rehearst, by Good-thinking a fore sayde.
All those likewyse that bost them: they are free, it is all payde:
And so choose to heare counterfeit Teachers, to follow after Sitch/
After whose deceitfull Doctrine/ their Eares do dayly itch:
Also all, that from the Doctrine of the Loue are turned.
Likewyse all corrupt Heartes, of the Scripture-learned:
All those that with Anger, from their Elder do depart/
And his Doctrine of Loue ; to ye worst; do spred and peruert.
Also all, that are turned, to such Falshod, very naught/
And suppose ; in such a Standing; of God for to be taught/
And wil not be touched, by the seruiceable Worde/
Wherby to learne to taste, the Loue, and her Accorde/
Wher-from they are quyt estranged, robbed, and blyndly leadd.
All those that haue not Christ, with his Loue, for their Headd/
But are so vtterly deafe, that they ; as the most Nomber;
Haste their Course-of lyfe/after the worldly Maner/
And yet thinke they haue the Best, in their Hearts within.
And so choose to heare counterfeit Teachers, to follow after Sitch/
After whose deceitfull Doctrine/ their Eares do dayly itch:
Also all, that from the Doctrine of the Loue are turned.
Likewyse all corrupt Heartes, of the Scripture-learned:
All those that with Anger, from their Elder do depart/
And his Doctrine of Loue ; to ye worst; do spred and peruert.
Also all, that are turned, to such Falshod, very naught/
And suppose ; in such a Standing; of God for to be taught/
And wil not be touched, by the seruiceable Worde/
Wherby to learne to taste, the Loue, and her Accorde/
Wher-from they are quyt estranged, robbed, and blyndly leadd.
All those that haue not Christ, with his Loue, for their Headd/
But are so vtterly deafe, that they ; as the most Nomber;
Haste their Course-of lyfe/after the worldly Maner/
And yet thinke they haue the Best, in their Hearts within.
D
All these false good-thinking Sinagogs ; full of Sinne;
Which without Water and Spirit, byde vnregenerate/
And ; with Falshod; set-foorth/ their Good-thinking, to ymitate/
Becom both Soule and Bodye, seduced into Hell/
With all their Like-companions, before rehearsed well:
Together with all those, that with such Falshod do aryse/
And ; vnprepared; go to teache, as if that they were wyse/
Who with their fonde Deuices, their Foolishnes bewraye/
And do nothing but ensue, the Distruction, daye-by-daye.
Which without Water and Spirit, byde vnregenerate/
And ; with Falshod; set-foorth/ their Good-thinking, to ymitate/
Becom both Soule and Bodye, seduced into Hell/
With all their Like-companions, before rehearsed well:
Together with all those, that with such Falshod do aryse/
And ; vnprepared; go to teache, as if that they were wyse/
Who with their fonde Deuices, their Foolishnes bewraye/
And do nothing but ensue, the Distruction, daye-by-daye.
31
Yea, all this vna[illeg.]dly [illeg.]rue, that are puffed-vp on-[illeg.]
All that shewe fayer Countenance, with holy Showe to Th[illeg.]
And turne them not about, to becom like a little Childe/
(To Gods heauenly Kingdom) to be taught end reconcilde:
Also all that ; with Dispitfulnes; gainst Anyone wil enuaye:
Those which ; against the Loue; force Others to confesse and saye:
Another kynde of Fayeth, then their Hearts alowt or Testifye:
Those that vex any Conscience, gainst Loue, or christian Charitye:
Those that ; with Uiolence; set-forth their Religion, for ye Best:
All these are bred & brought, out of Good-thinkings wicked Nest:
Though by anyones Extolling, they seeme neuer so wyse to show.
All that shewe fayer Countenance, with holy Showe to Th[illeg.]
And turne them not about, to becom like a little Childe/
(To Gods heauenly Kingdom) to be taught end reconcilde:
Also all that ; with Dispitfulnes; gainst Anyone wil enuaye:
Those which ; against the Loue; force Others to confesse and saye:
Another kynde of Fayeth, then their Hearts alowt or Testifye:
Those that vex any Conscience, gainst Loue, or christian Charitye:
Those that ; with Uiolence; set-forth their Religion, for ye Best:
All these are bred & brought, out of Good-thinkings wicked Nest:
Though by anyones Extolling, they seeme neuer so wyse to show.
E
Longing-for-comfort.O Good-informacion/this makes me full of Greef to growe.
Be Those accounted euell, which be called wyse and graue/
That seeme likwyse to be so holly/heare yet my Speed I craue:
Can the Spirit of Good thinking, intrapp likewyse al such,
As are so learned, and so wyse, in [illeg.]ing foorth of much?
How shall then the Simple-sort, escape and shune their hande?
Good-informacion.
Oh/alas the simple-folke, are playne in euery Lande/
They are right like Balaams Asse, true it is no dout/
That be dreeuen and directed, heere and theare about:
For now among Many, it doth manyfestly appeere/
That ; by Good-thinkings suttle Sleights; both farr and neere
Many Peoples Hearts, are troubled greeuously:
Also Many ; into Error; are sedust and ledd awry/
With much Heavy-cheere, laden in their Thought:
And with greeuous Torments, are to the Slaughter brought:
Wherunto many Simpleones, haue prepared themselues redy:
The XVII Chapter.
A
Longing-for-comfort.
Oh!
my heart cannot reioyce, nor any may be mery,
Because that Men thus sitt, in Good-thinkings Generacion.
And that one doth worke another, great Wrong and Uexacion.
About Knowledg, which they drawe to them boldly, not shrinking:
For in that maner/through ye polluted Worke of Good-thinking,
Almost all Men ; with Knowledg; are mightely vexed now/
And which Good thinkings Spirit/as each Heart doth gesse and alow.
Because that Men thus sitt, in Good-thinkings Generacion.
And that one doth worke another, great Wrong and Uexacion.
32
For in that maner/through ye polluted Worke of Good-thinking,
Almost all Men ; with Knowledg; are mightely vexed now/
And which Good thinkings Spirit/as each Heart doth gesse and alow.
Wherthrough I do note ; by thy Speech, sence thou didst beginne;
That they are all deceaued, through their Wicked Sinne:
For now, one man easely perceaue, by marking these things/
That Good-thinking hath gotten almost all, vnder his Wings/
Both Lay people and Clerks, in my simple Discerning.
But Now I wonder at this ; which I aske thee for my learning;
How the Man shall be gloryfyed, with his God agayne:
Uouchsafe yet to instruct me therof.
That they are all deceaued, through their Wicked Sinne:
For now, one man easely perceaue, by marking these things/
That Good-thinking hath gotten almost all, vnder his Wings/
Both Lay people and Clerks, in my simple Discerning.
But Now I wonder at this ; which I aske thee for my learning;
How the Man shall be gloryfyed, with his God agayne:
Uouchsafe yet to instruct me therof.
B
Good-Informacion.Thatt is ; by Understanding; in this Playe, declared playne/
Who doth testify vnto vs ; in perfect Cleernes; theare
That so long as the Man, doth suck and still prepare,
The Taking-on of Adam, in his Wandring-out-astraye
He remayneth alwayes, departed farr-awaye
From Gods Understanding, heere on Earth, in wretched case?
Till he leaue or put-of Adam, and put on Christ, in his place/
And, from all his Self-wisdom, desyreth to convart.
Longing-for-comfort.
But if the Man woulde learne, to be simple, for his part/
And woulde walke after Chist, in his Obedince true:
And deale towards Eueryone, vprightly, as is due;
And [illeg.] Equitee, woulde doo the best he might:
How shoulde it go with him then?
Good-Information.
Thatt shall he at the last, vnderstande that he is mard or defuled:
And to the Loues Obedience, hath turned him and inclyned.
And so is entered, into the holy Seruice of Loue/
Lyke as Understanding, doth confesse and approue/
Through the Lamentacion that for the Man was made.
C
Longing-for-comfort.[illeg.]ow wil I leaue Demaunding, and no f[illeg.] made:
32
That it muse all com, and on the Man be layde,
Which [illeg.] indeed [illeg.] him, in his disobedient Straying:
For God ; often his Fall; pronounced-foorth this Saying/
That daily shoulde him meete, all Wretchednes and Misery.
Good-informacion.
Heerwith, wee wish you All, good Health and Prosperety:
Craueing-leaue (Dearly-beloued) from hence now to depart.
Longing-for-comfort.
Receaue thissame in Loue, to your Solace and Comodety.
Good-Information.
Heer-with, we wish you All, good Health and Prosperety.
Longing-for-comfort.
Chainge your Sorow into Ioye, in the Loue of the Uerety/
With this our playne Inuencion, shewing small skill of Arte.
Good-informacion.
Heer-with, we wish you All, good Health and Prosperety:
Craueing-leaue (Deerly-beloued) from hence now to depart,
Yee wyse-mynded People, take this Matter well to hart.
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