PATER COELESTIS. I have with fierceness mankind oftentimes corrected, And again I have allured him by sweet promise, I have sent sore plagues, when he hath me neglected, And then by and by most comfortable sweetness. To win him to grace, both mercy and righteousness, I have exercised, yet will he not amend; Shall I now lose him, or shall I him defend? In his most mischief most high grace will I send, To overcome him by favour, if it may be. With his abusions no longer will I contend But now accomplish my first will and decree. My word being flesh, from hence shall set him free, Him teaching a way of perfect righteousness, That he shall not need to perish in his weakness. JOHANNES BAPTISTA. Manasses, Lord, is past which turned from thee his heart, Ahaz and Ammon have now no more ado, Jechonias with other, which did themselves avert From thee to idols, may now no farther go. The two false judges, and Baal's wicked priests also, Phassur and Shemias, with Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus and Triphon, shall thee displease no more. Three score years and ten thy people into Babylon Were captive and thrall for idols' worshipping. Jerusalem was lost, and left void of dominion, Brent was their temple, so was their other building; Their high priests were slain, their treasure came to nothing. The strength and beauty of thine own heritage. Thus didst thou leave them in miserable bondage. Oft had they warnings, sometimes by Ezekiel, And other prophets, as Isaias and Jeremiah, Sometimes by Daniel, sometimes by Hosea and Joel, By Amos and Obadiah, by Jonah and by Zephaniah, By Nahum and Micah, by Haggai, and by Zachariah, By Malachi, and also by Habakkuk, By Olda the widow, and by the prophet Baruch. Remember Josias, which took the abhomination From the people, then restoring thy laws again. Of Rechab consider the faithful generation, Whom to wine-drinking no friendship might constrain. Remember Abimelech, the friend of truth certain, Zerubabel the prince, which did repair the temple, And Jesus Josedec, of virtue the example. Consider Nehemiah and Ezra the good scribe, Merciful Tobiah and constant Mordecai: Judith and queen Esther of the same godly tribe: Devout Mathias and Judas Macabeus. Have mind of Eleazar and then Joannes Hircanus, Weigh the earnest faith of this godly company, Though the other clean fall from thy memory. PATER COELESTIS. I will, John, I will, for as I said afore, Rigour and hardness I have now set apart, Minding from henceforth to win man evermore By wonderful kindness to break his stubborn heart, And change it from sin. For Christ shall suffer smart, In man's frail nature for his iniquity, This to make open my messenger shalt thou be. JOHANNES BAPTISTA. As thy pleasure is, so, blessed Lord, appoint me, For my health thou art and my soul's felicity.