Chapter 15

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Pitiful Maker, though they have kindled thy fury, Cast not away yet the just sort with the ungodly. Paraventure there may be fifty righteous persons Within those cities, wilt thou lose them all at once, And not spare the place, for those fifty righteous' sake? Be it far from thee such rigour to undertake. I hope there is not in thee so cruel hardness, As to cast away the just men with the rechless, And so to destroy the good with the ungodly. In the judge of all be never such a fury.

PATER COELESTIS. At Sodom, if I may find just persons fifty, The place will I spare for their sakes verily.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. I take upon me to speak here in thy presence, More than becomes me; Lord, pardon my negligence: I am but ashes, and were loth thee to offend.

PATER COELESTIS. Say forth, good Abraham, for ill dost thou not intend.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Happily there may be five less in the same number: For their sakes I trust thou wilt not the rest accumber.[293]

PATER COELESTIS. If I among them might find but five-and-forty, Then would I not lose for that just company.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. What if the city may forty righteous make?

PATER COELESTIS. Then will I pardon it for those same forty's sake.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Be not angry, Lord, though I speak indiscreetly.

PATER COELESTIS. Utter thy whole mind, and spare me not hardily.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Paraventure there may be thirty found among them.

PATER COELESTIS. May I find thirty, I will nothing do unto them.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. I take upon me too much, Lord, in thy sight.

PATER COELESTIS. No, no, good Abraham, for I know thy faith is right.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. No less, I suppose, than twenty can it have.

PATER COELESTIS. Could I find twenty, that city would I save.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Once yet will I speak my mind, and then no more.

PATER COELESTIS. Spare not to utter so much as thou hast in store.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. And what, if there might be ten good creatures found?

PATER COELESTIS. The rest for their sakes might so be safe and sound, And not destroyed for their abhomination.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. O Merciful Maker, much is thy toleration And sufferance of sin. I see it now indeed, Witsafe yet of favour out of these cities to lead Those that be faithful, though their flocks be but small.

PATER COELESTIS. Loth and his household I will deliver all, For righteousness sake, which is of me and not them.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Great are thy graces in the generation of Shem. PATER COELESTIS. Well, Abraham, well for thy true faithfulness, Now will I give thee my covenant or third promise. Look thou believe it, as thou covetest righteousness.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Lord, so regard me, as I receive it with gladness.

PATER COELESTIS. Of many peoples the father I will make thee, All generations in thy seed shall be blessed. As the stars of heaven, so shall thy kindred be; And by the same seed the world shall be redressed. In circumcision shall this thing be expressed, As in a sure seal, to prove my promise true; Print this in thy faith, and it shall thy soul renew.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. I will not one jot, Lord, from thy will dissent, But to thy pleasure be always obedient, Thy laws to fulfil, and most precious commandment.

PATER COELESTIS. Farewell, Abraham, for here in place I leave thee.

ABRAHAM FIDELIS. Thanks will I render, like as it shall behove me. Everlasting praise to thy most glorious name, Which saved Adam through faith in thy sweet promise Of the woman's seed, and now confirmest the same In the seed of me. Forsooth, great is thy goodness: I cannot perceive, but that thy mercy is endless To such as fear thee in every generation, For it endureth without abbreviation. This have I printed in deep consideration, No worldly matter can rase it out of mind. For once it will be the final restoration Of Adam and Eve, with other that hath sinned; Yea, the sure health and raise of all mankind. Help have the faithful thereof, though they be infect, They, condemnation, where as it is reject. Merciful Maker, my crabbed voice direct, That it may break out in some sweet praise to thee; And suffer me not thy due laws to neglect, But let me show forth thy commendations free, Stop not my windpipes, but give them liberty, To sound to thy name, which is most gracious, And in it rejoice with heart melodious.

_Tunc alta voce canit Antiphonam_, O rex gentium, _choro eandem prosequente cum organis, ut prius_:

_Vel Anglicè hoc modo_.

O most Mighty Governor of thy people, and in heart most desired, the hard rock and true cornerstone, that of two maketh one, uning the Jews with the Gentiles in one church, come now and relieve mankind, whom thou hast formed of the vile earth.

_Finit Actus tertius_.

INCIPIT ACTUS QUARTUS.

PATER COELESTIS. Still so increaseth the wickedness of man. That I am moved with plagues him to confound. His weakness to aid I do the best I can, Yet he regardeth me no more than doth an hound. My word and promise in his faith taketh no ground, He will so long walk in his own lusts at large, That nought he shall find his folly to discharge. Since Abraham's time, which was my true elect, Ishmael have I found both wicked, fierce, and cruel, And Esau in mind with hateful murder infect. The sons of Jacob to lusts unnatural fell, And into Egypt did they their brother sell Laban to idols gave faithful reverence, Dinah was corrupt through Shechem's violence. Reuben abused his father's concubine, Judah gat children of his own daughter-in-law; Yea, here in my sight went after a wicked line. His seed Onan spilt, his brother's name to withdraw. Achan lived here without all Godly awe. And now the children of Israel abuse my power, In so vile manner, that they move me every hour.

MOSES SANCTUS. Pacify thy wrath, sweet Lord, I thee desire, As thou art gentle, benign, and patient, Lose not that people in fierceness of thine ire, For when thou hast showed such tokens evident, Converting this rod into a lively serpent, And the same serpent into this rod again, Thy wonderful power declaring very plain. For their sakes also puttest Pharaoh to pain By ten diverse plagues, as I shall here declare: By blood, frogs, and lice; by flies, death, blotches, and blain. By hail, by grasshoppers, by darkness, and by care: By a sudden plague all their firstgotten ware Thou slewest in one night for his fierce cruelness. From that thy people withhold not now thy goodness.

PATER COELESTIS. I certify thee, my chosen servant Moses, That people of mine is full of unthankfulness.

MOSES SANCTUS. Dear Lord, I know it, alas! yet weigh their weakness, And bear with their faults of thy great bounteousness. In a flaming bush, having to them respect, Thou appointed'st me their passage to direct: And through the Red Sea thy right hand did us lead, Where Pharaoh's host the flood overwhelmed indeed. Thou went'st before them in a shining cloud all day, And in the dark night in fire thou showed'st their way. Thou sent them manna from heaven, to be their food. Out of the hard stone thou gavest them water good. Thou appointed'st them a land of milk and honey. Let them not perish for want of thy great mercy.

PATER COELESTIS. Content they are not with foul nor yet with fair, But murmur and grudge, as people in despair. As I sent manna, they had it in disdain, Thus of their welfare they many times complain. Over Amalech I gave them the victory.

MOSES SANCTUS. Most Glorious Maker, all that is to thy glory, Thou sentest them also a law from heaven above, And daily showest them many tokens of great love. The brazen serpent thou gavest them for their healing, And Balaam's curse thou turned'st into a blessing. I hope thou wilt not disdain to help them still.

PATER COELESTIS. I gave them precepts which they will not fulfil. Nor yet acknowledge me for their God and good Lord, So do their vile deeds with their wicked hearts accord, While thou hast talked with me familiarly In Sinai's mountain the space but of days forty, Those sights all they have forgotten clearly, And are turned to shameful idolatry. For their God they have set up a golden calf.

MOSES SANCTUS. Let me say somewhat, Sweet Father, in their behalf.

PATER COELESTIS. I will first conclude, and then say on thy mind. For that I have found that people so unkind, Not one of them shall enjoy the promise of me, For entering the land, but Caleb and Joshua.

MOSES SANCTUS. Thy eternal will evermore fulfilled be. For disobedience thou slewest the sons of Aaron, The earth swallowed in both Dathan and Abiram. The adders did sting other wicked persons else, In wonderful number. Thus hast thou punished rebels.

PATER COELESTIS. Never will I spare the cursed iniquity Of idolatry for no cause, thou mayest trust me.

MOSES SANCTUS. Forgive them yet, Lord, for this time, if it may be.

PATER COELESTIS. Thinkest thou that I will so soon change my decree? No, no, friend Moses; so light thou shalt not find me, I will punish them, all Israel shall it see.

MOSES SANCTUS. I wot, thy people hath wrought abhomination. Worshipping false gods, to thy honour's derogation. Yet merciful thou mayest upon them look And if thou wilt not, thrust me out of thy book.

PATER COELESTIS. Those great blasphemers shall out of my book clean, But thou shalt not so, for I know what thou dost mean. Conduct my people, mine angel shall assist thee, That sin at a day will not uncorrected be. And for the true zeal that thou to my people hast, I add this covenant unto my promises past. Raise them up I will a prophet from among them. Not unlike to thee, to speak my words unto them. Whoso heareth not that he shall speak in my name, I will revenge it to his perpetual shame. The Passover lamb will be a token just Of this strong covenant. This have I clearly discussed In my appointment this hour for your deliverance.

MOSES SANCTUS. Never shall this thing depart from my remembrance. Laud be for ever to thee, most merciful Lord, Which never withdrawest from man thy heavenly comfort, But from age to age thy benefits doth record, What thy goodness is, and hath been to his sort. As we find thy grace, so ought we to report. And doubtless it is to us most bounteous, Yea, for all our sins most ripe and plenteous. Abraham our father found the benevolence. So did good Isaac in his distress among. To Jacob thou wert a guide most gracious, Joseph thou savedst from dangerous deadly wrong. Melchisedec and Job felt thy great goodness strong, So did good Sarah, Rebeccah, and fair Rachel, With Zipporah my wife, the daughter of Revel, To praise thee, sweet lord, my faith doth me compel, For thy covenants' sake, wherein rest our salvation, The seed of promise all other seeds excel, For therein remaineth our full justification. From Adam and Noah, in Abraham's generation, That seed procureth God's mighty grace and power, For the same seed's sake, I will sing now this hour.

_Clara tunc voce Antiphonam incipit_, O Emmanuel, _quam chorus (ut prius) prosequetur cum organis_.

_Vel Anglicè canat_:

O high King Emmanuel, and our liege lord! the long expectation of Gentiles, and the mighty saviour of their multitude, the health and consolation of sinners, come now for to save us as our Lord and our Redeemer.

_Finit Actus quartus_.

INCIPIT ACTUS QUINTUS.

PATER COELESTIS. For all the favour I have showed Israel, Delivering her from Pharaoh's tyranny, And giving the land _fluentem lac & mel_, Yet will she not leave her old idolatry, Nor know me for God. I ahhor her misery: Vexed her I have with battles and decays, And must I plague her, I see no other ways.

DAVID REX PIUS. Remember yet, lord, thy worthy servant Moses, Walking in thy sight, without rebuke of thee. Both Aaron, Jethro, Eleazar, and Phineas, Evermore feared to offend thy majesty, Much thou acceptedst thy servant Josua. Caleb and Othniel sought thee with all their heart, Aioth and Shangar for thy folk did their part. Gideon and Tola thy enemies put to smart, Jair and Jephtha gave praises to thy name. These to leave idols thy people did court Samson the strongest for his part did the same. Samuel and Nathan thy messages did proclaim. What though fierce Pharaoh wrought mischief in thy sight: He was a Pagan, lay not that in our light. I wot the Benjaminites abused the ways of right, So did Eli's sons, and the sons of Samuel. Saul in his office was slothful day and night, Wicked was Shimei, so was Ahithophel. Measure not by them the faults of Israel, Whom thou hast loved of long time so entirely, But of thy great grace remit her wicked folly.

PATER COELESTIS. I cannot abide the vice of idolatry, Though I should suffer all other villany. When Joshua was dead, that sort from me did fall To the worshipping of Ashteroth and Baal, Full unclean idols, and monsters bestial.

DAVID REX PIUS. For it they have had thy righteous punishment, And for as much as they did wickedly consent To the Philistines and Canaanites, ungodly Idolaters, taking to them in matrimony, Thou threwest them under the king of Mesopotamia, After thou subduedst them for their idolatry Eighteen years to Eglon, the king of Moabites, And twenty years to Jabin, the king of Canaanites, Oppressed they were seven years of the Midianites, And eighteen years vexed of the cruel Ammonites. In three great battles, of threescore thousand and five Of this thy people, not one was left alive. Have mercy now, lord, and call them to repentance.

PATER COELESTIS. So long as they sin, so long shall they have grievance. David my servant, somewhat must I say to thee: For that thou lately hast wrought such vanity.

DAVID REX PIUS. Spare not, blessed lord, but say thy pleasure to me.

PATER COELESTIS. Of late days thou hast misused Beersheba, The wife of Uriah, and slain him in the field.

DAVID REX PIUS. Mercy, Lord, mercy, for doubtless I am defiled.

PATER COELESTIS. I constitute thee a king over Israel, And thee preserved from Saul, which was thy enemy. Yea, in my favour so much thou didst excel, That of thy enemies I gave thee victory. Philistines and Syrians to thee came tributary. Why hast thou then wrought such folly in my sight, Despising my word against all godly right?

DAVID REX PIUS. I have sinned, Lord; I beseech thee, pardon me.

PATER COELESTIS. Thou shalt not die, David, for this iniquity, For thy repentance; but thy son by Beersheba Shall die, for as much as my name is blasphemed Among my enemies, and thou the worst esteemed. From thy house for this the sword shall not depart.

DAVID REX PIUS. I am sorry, Lord, from the bottom of my heart.

PATER COELESTIS. To further anger thou dost me yet compel.

DAVID REX PIUS. For what matter, Lord? I beseech thy goodness tell.

PATER COELESTIS. Why didst thou number the people of Israel? Supposest in thy mind therein thou hast done well?

DAVID REX PIUS. I cannot say nay, but I have done indiscreetly, To forget thy grace for a human policy.

PATER COELESTIS. Thou shalt of these three choose which plague thou wilt have For that sinful act, that I thy soul may save: A scarceness seven years, or else three months' exile, Either for three days the pestilence most vile, For one thou must have: there is no remedy.

DAVID REX PIUS. Lord, at thy pleasure, for thou art full of mercy.

PATER COELESTIS. Of a pestilence then three score thousand and ten In three days shall die of thy most puissant men.

DAVID REX PIUS. O Lord, it is I which have offended thy grace, Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespass.

PATER COELESTIS. Though thy sins be great, thy inward heart's contrition Doth move my stomach in wonderful condition. I find thee a man according to my heart; Wherefore this promise I make thee, ere I depart. A fruit there shall come forth issuing from thy body, Whom I will advance upon thy seat for ever. His throne shall become a seat of heavenly glory, His worthy sceptre from right will not dissever, His happy kingdom of faith shall perish never. Of heaven and of earth he was author principal, And will continue, though they do perish all This sign shalt thou have for a token special, That thou mayest believe my words unfeignedly. Where thou hast minded, for my memorial, To build a temple, thou shalt not finish it truly. But Solomon thy son shall do that action worthy, In token that Christ must finish everything That I have begun, to my praise everlasting.

DAVID REX PIUS. Immortal glory to thee, most heavenly King, For that thou hast given continual victory To me thy servant ever since my annointing, And also before, by many conquests worthy. A bear and lion I slew through thy strength only. I slew Golias, which was six cubits long. Against thy enemies thou madest me ever strong. My fleshly frailness made me do deadly wrong, And clean to forget thy laws of righteousness. And though thou visitedst my sinfulness among With pestilent plagues and other unquietness, Yet never tookest thou from me the plenteousness Of thy godly spirit, which thou in me didst plant. I, having remorse, thy grace could never want; For, in conclusion, thy everlasting covenant Thou gavest unto me for all my wicked sin; And hast promised here by protestation constant, That one of my seed shall such high fortune win, As never did man since this world did begin. By his power he shall put Satan from his hold, In rejoice whereof to sing will I be bold.

_Canora voce tunc incipit Antiphonam_, O Adonai, _quam (ut prius) prosequetur chorus cum organis_.

_Vel sic Anglicè_:

O Lord God Adonai, and guide of the faithful house of Israel, which sometime appearedest in the flaming bush to Moses, and to him didst give a law in Mount Sinai, come now for to redeem us in the strength of thy right hand.

_Finit Actus quintus_.

INCIPIT ACTUS SEXTUS.

PATER COELESTIS. I brought up children from their first infancy, Which now despiseth my godly instructions. An ox knoweth his lord, an ass his master's duty; But Israel will not know me nor my conditions. O froward people, given all to superstitions: Unnatural children, expert in blasphemies, Provoketh me to hate by their idolatries. Take heed to my words, ye tyrants of Sodom, In vain ye offer your sacrifice to me. Discontent I am with you, beasts of Gomorrah, And have no pleasure when I your offerings see; I abhor your fasts and your solemnity; For your traditions my ways ye set apart, Your works are in vain, I hate them from the heart.

ESAIAS PROPHETA. Thy city, sweet Lord, is now become unfaithful, And her conditions are turned upside down. Her life is unchaste, her acts be very hurtful, Her murder and theft hath darkened her renown. Covetous rewards doth so their conscience drown, That the fatherless they will not help to right, The poor widow's cause come not afore their sight. Thy peaceable paths seek they neither day nor night; But walk wicked ways after their fantasy. Convert their hearts, Lord, and give them thy true light, That they may perceive their customable folly: Leave them not helpless in so deep misery, But call them from it of thy most special grace, By thy true prophets, to their soul's health and solace.

PATER COELESTIS. First they had fathers, then had they patriarchs, Then dukes, then judges, to their guides and monarchs. Now have they stout kings, yet are they wicked still, And will in no wise my pleasant laws fulfil. Always they apply to idol-worshipping, From the vile beggar to the anointed king.

ESAIAS PROPHETA. For that cause thou hast in two divided them, In Samaria the one, the other in Jerusalem. The king of Judah in Jerusalem did dwell, And in Samaria the king of Israel. Ten of the twelve tribes became Samaritans, And the other two were Hierosolimitans. In both these countries, according to their doings, Thou permittedst them to have most cruel kings. The first of Judah was wicked king Rehoboam, Of Israel the first was that cruel Jeroboam; Abijam then followed, and in the other Nadab, Then Baasha, then Etah, then Zimri, Jehoram, and Ahab.[294] Then Ahaziah, then Athaliah, then Jehoash; On the other part was Jotham and Ahaz. To rehearse them all that have done wretchedly In the sight of thee, it were long verily.

PATER COELESTIS. For the wicked sin of filthy idolatry, Which the ten tribes did in the land of Samaria. In space of one day fifty thousand men I slew, Three of their cities also I overthrew, And left the people in such captivity, That in all the world they wist not whither to flee. The other two tribes, when they from me went back To idolatry, I left in the hand of Sesack, The king of Egypt, which took away their treasure, Conveyed their cattle, and slew them without measure. In time of Ahaz, an hundred thousand and twenty Were slain at one time for their idolatry. Two hundred thousand from thence were captive led, Their goods dispersed, and they with penury fed. Seldom they fail it, but either the Egyptians Have them in bondage, or else the Assyrians. And alone they may thank their idolatry.

ISAIAS PROPHETA. Well yet, blessed Lord, relieve them with thy mercy. Though they have been ill by other princes' days. Yet good Zedekiah hath taught them goodly ways. When the prince is good, the people are the better; And as he is nought, their vices are the greater. Heavenly Lord, therefore send them the consolation, Which thou hast covenanted with every generation. Open thou the heavens, and let the lamb come hither, Which will deliver thy people altogether. Ye planets and clouds, cast down your dews and rain, That the earth may bear out healthful savour plain.

PATER COELESTIS. May the wife forget the child of her own body?

ISAIAS PROPHETA. Nay, that she cannot in any wise verily.

PATER COELESTIS. No more can I them which will do my commandments, But must preserve them from all inconvenients.

ISAIAS PROPHETA. Blessed art thou, Lord, in all thy acts and judgments.

PATER COELESTIS. Well, Isaias, for this thy fidelity A covenant of health thou shalt have also of me.

ISAIAS PROPHETA.[295] For Zion's sake now I will not hold my peace, And for Jerusalem to speak will I not cease, Till that righteous Lord become as a sunbeam bright, And their just saver as a lamp extend his light.

PATER COELESTIS. A rod shall shoot forth from the old stock of Jesse, And a bright blossom from that root will arise, Upon whom always the spirit of the Lord shall be, The spirit of wisdom, the spirit of heavenly practice, And the spirit that will all goodness devise. Take this for a sign: a maid of Israel Shall conceive and bear that Lord Immanuel.

ISAIAS PROPHETA. Thy praises condign no mortal tongue can tell, Most worthy Maker and king of heavenly glory, For all capacities thy goodness doth excel, Thy plenteous grace no brain can compass truly, No wit can conceive the greatness of thy mercy, Declared of late in David thy true servant And now confirmed in this thy latter covenant. Of goodness thou madest Solomon of wit most pregnant, Asa and Jehosaphat, with good king Hezekiah, In thy sight to do what was to thee right pleasant. To quench idolatry, thou raisedest up Elijah, Jehu, Elisha, Micas, and Abdias, And Naaman Syrus thou purgedest of a lepry. Thy works wonderful who can but magnify? Arise, Jerusalem, and take faith by and by, For the very light that shall save thee is coming. The Son of the Lord appear will evidently, When he shall resort, see that no joy be wanting. He is thy saver and thy life everlasting, Thy release from sin and thy whole righteousness. Help me in this song to acknowledge his great goodness.

_Concinna tunc voce Antiphonam inchoat_, O radix Jesse _quam chorus prosequeter cum organis_.

_Vel Anglicè hoc modo canet_.

O fruitful root of Jesse, that shall be set as a sign among people, against the worldly rulers shall fiercely open their mouths. Whom the Gentiles worship as their heavenly Lord, come now for to deliver us, and delay the time no longer.

_Finit Actus sextus_.

ACTUS SEPTIMUS.