University of Virginia Library

Howe a mannes soule is deade throughe synne.

As a mannes body may be slawe
With wepyn, that to hym may be drawe
So is the soule slayne throughe foule synne
Wherfore God and he departeth at wynne

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Than is ghostly death for to drede more
Than any bodely death, thoughe it greue sore
And in as moche, as the soule pryncypally
Is more worthy, than a mannes body
For thoughe a mannes soule, throughe synne be deade
And departed from God in his manheade
Yet it myght euer lyue, and harde payne fynde
But the body is deed anone throughe flesshely kynde
But of bodely death is none agayne tournynge
For of all earthly death, it maketh an endynge
And that is the way, that we must wende
To toye other to payne, that is without ende
Neuertheles yf the soule with synne be slayne
Yet he may throughe grace, be quycked agayne
For God bought it dere, vpon the rode tre
In the ioy of Paradyce, with hym for to be
For all ghostly woundes, that be of synne
May here throughe penaunce, take hele to wynne
And thoughe God euer be ryghtfull and myghtye
Yet he euermore is full of mercye
And to saue mannes soule, more redy is he
Than any man wyll, to his mercye fle
For the lyfe of the soule, pleaseth hym more
Than doth mannes death, as sayth his lore.

Nolo mortem peccatoris sed magis conuertatur vt viuat.