A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 8

GOOD COUNSEL.

By[62] these words, which unto you he doth express, He teacheth that you ought to have a steadfast faith; Without the which[63] it is impossible doubtless To please G.o.d, as Saint Paul saith: Where faith is not, G.o.dly living decayeth; For whatsoever is not of faith, saith St. Paul, is sin, But where a perfect faith is, there is good working.

JUVENTUS.

It seemeth to me, that this is[64] your meaning, That, when I observe G.o.d's commandments and the works of charity, They shall prevail unto me nothing, Except I believe to be saved thereby.

KNOWLEDGE.

No, no, you are deceived very blindly; For faith in Christ's merits doth only justify, And make us righteous in G.o.d's sight.

JUVENTUS.

Why should I then in good[65] works delight, Seeing I shall not be saved by them?

GOOD COUNSEL.

Because they are required of all Christian men, As the necessary fruits of true repentance.

KNOWLEDGE.

But the reward of the heavenly inheritance Is given us through faith, for Christ's deservings; As St. Paul declareth in the fourth chapter to the Romans, Therefore we ought not to work as hirelings: Seeing Christ hath purged us once from all our wicked living, Let us no more wallow therein, But persever, like good branches, bearing fruit in Him.

JUVENTUS.

Now I know where about you have been: My elders never taught me so before.

GOOD COUNSEL.

Though your elders were blind, doubt not you therefore; For Saint Peter saith, vain is the conversations Which ye receive by your elders' traditions.

JUVENTUS.

I will gladly receive your G.o.dly admonitions: But yet, I pray you, show me the cause That they, being men of great discretions, Did not instruct me in G.o.d's laws, According to His will and ordinance.

KNOWLEDGE.

Because they themselves were wrapped in ignorance, Being deceived by false preachers.

JUVENTUS.

O Lord, deliver me from wicked teachers, That I be not deceived with their false doctrine.

GOOD COUNSEL.

To G.o.d's word you must only incline; All other doctrine clean set apart.

JUVENTUS.

Surely that I will from the bottom of my heart; And I thank the living G.o.d which hath given me the knowledge To know His doctrine from the false and pervart,[66]

I being yet young and full tender of age; And that He hath made me partaker of the heavenly inheritage, Of his own[67] mercy, and not of my deserving, For h.e.l.l I have deserved by my sinful working.

I know right well, my elders and parents Have of a long time deceived be With blind hypocrisy and superst.i.tious intents, Trusting in their own works, which is nothing but vanity; Their steps shall not be followed for me: Therefore, I pray you, show me a brief conclusion, How I ought to live in Christian religion.

KNOWLEDGE.

The first beginning of wisdom, as saith the wise Solomon, Is to fear G.o.d with all thy[68] heart and power; And then thou must believe all his promises without any exception, And that He will perform them both constant and sure: And then, because He is thy only Saviour, Thou must love Him with all thy soul and mind, And thy neighbour as thyself, because he hath so a.s.signed.

JUVENTUS.

To love my neighbour as myself? I cannot be so[69] kind: I pray you tell me, what mean you?

KNOWLEDGE.

My meaning is, as Christ saith in the sixth chapter of Matthew,[70]

To do to Him as you would be done to.

JUVENTUS.

I pray G.o.d give me grace so for to do, That unto His will I may be obedient.

GOOD COUNSEL.

Here you shall receive Christ's testament To comfort your conscience, when need shall require, To learn the contents thereof, see that you be diligent; The which all Christian men ought to desire, For it is the well or fountain most clear, Out of the which doth spring sweet consolation To all those that[71] thirst after eternal salvation.

KNOWLEDGE.

Therein shall you find most wholesome preservation Both in troubles, persecutions, sickness, and adversity, And a sure defence in the time of temptation, Against whom the devil cannot prevail with all his army: And, if you persever therein unfeignedly, It will set your heart at such quietness and rest, Which cannot[72] never be turned with storms nor tempest.

GOOD COUNSEL.

With this thing you must neither flatter nor jest, But stedfastly believe it every day and hour, And let your conversation openly protest, That of your heart it is the most precious treasure: And then your G.o.dly example shall other men procure To learn and exercise the same also: I pray G.o.d strengthen you so for to do.

JUVENTUS.

Now for this G.o.dly knowledge which you have brought me to, I beseech the living G.o.d reward[73] you again: From your company I will never depart nor go, So long as in this life I do remain; For in this book I see manifest and plain, That he that followeth his own l.u.s.ts and imagination, Keepeth the ready path to everlasting d.a.m.nation: And he that leadeth[74] a G.o.dly conversation Shall be brought[75] to such quietness, joy, and peace, Which in comparison pa.s.seth all worldly gloriation, Which cannot endure, but shortly cease.

Both the time and hour I may now bless, That I met with you, father Good Counsel, To bring me to the knowledge of this[76] heavenly gospel.

KNOWLEDGE.

This your profession I like very well, So that you intend to live according; I pray G.o.d, your living do not rebel, But ever agree unto your saying, That, when ye shall make accounts or reckoning, Of this talent which you have received, You may be one of those, with whom the Lord shall be pleased.

GOOD COUNSEL.

For this conversation of Youth the Lord's name be praised: Let us now depart for a season.

[_Exit_.]

KNOWLEDGE.

To give G.o.d the glory it is convenient and reason: If you will depart, I will not tarry.

[_Exit_.]

JUVENTUS.

And I will never forsake your company, While I live in this world.

[_Exit_.[77]

_Here entereth the_ DEVIL.

O, O, all too late!

I trow this gear will come to naught; For I perceive my power doth abate, For all the policy that ever I have wrought: Many and sundry ways I have fought, To have the Word of G.o.d deluded utterly; O for sorrow! yet it will not be.

I have done the best that I can, And my mistress also in every place, To root it clean from the heart of man; And yet for all that it flourisheth apace; I am sore in dread to show my face, My auctority and works are so greatly despised, My inventions, and all that ever I have devised.

O, O, full well I know the cause, That my estimation doth thus decay; The old people would believe still in my laws, But the younger sort lead them a contrary way; They will not believe, they plainly say, In old traditions and made by men, But they will live, as the Scripture teacheth them.

Out, I cry, upon them, they do me open wrong, To bring up their children thus in knowledge; For, if they will not follow my ways, when, they are young, It is hard turning them when they come to age: I must needs find some means this matter to 'suage; I mean, to turn their hearts from the Scripture quite, That in carnal pleasures they may have more delight.

Well, I will go haste[78] to infect this youth Through the enticement of my son Hypocrisy, And work some proper feat to stop his mouth, That he may lead his life carnally: I had never more need my matters to apply.

O my child Hypocrisy, where art thou?

I charge thee of my blessing appear before me now.

[_Here entereth_ HYPOCRISY.

HYPOCRISY.

O, O, quoth he, keep again the sow; I come as fast as I can, I warrant you: Where is he that hath the sow to sell?

I will give him money, if I like her well; Whether it be sow or hog, I do not greatly care, For by my occupation I am a butcher.

DEVIL.