JUVENTUS. Your mind therein I do well understand: You go about my living to despise, But you will not see the beams in your own eyes. GOOD COUNSEL. The devil hath you deceived, which is the author of lies, And trapped[153] you in his snare of wicked Hypocrisy; Therefore all that ever you do devise, Is to maintain your fleshly liberty. JUVENTUS. I marvel, why you do this[154] reprove me; Wherein do I my life abuse? GOOD COUNSEL. Your whole conversation I may well accuse, As in my conscience just occasion I find; Therefore be not offended, although I express my mind. JUVENTUS. By the mass, if thou tell not truth, I will not be behind To touch you as well again. GOOD COUNSEL. For this thing most chiefly I do complain:[155] Have you not professed the knowledge of Christ's gospel? And yet, I think, no more ungodliness doth reign In any wicked heathen, Turk, or infidel; Who can devise that sin or evil, That you practise not from day to day? Yea, and count it nothing but a jest or a play. Alas! what wantonness remaineth in your flesh! How desirous are you to accomplish your own will! What pleasure and delight have you in wickedness! How diligent are you your lusts to fulfil! St Paul saith, that you ought your fleshly lusts to kill: But unto his teaching your life ye will not frame; Therefore in vain you bear a Christian name. Read the Five to the Galatians, and there you shall see, That the flesh rebelleth against the spirit, And that your own flesh is your[156] most utter[157] enemy, If in your soul's health you do delight: The time were too long now to recite, What whoredom, uncleanness, and filthy communication Is dispersed with youth in every congregation. To speak of pride, envy, and abhominable oaths, They are the common practices of youth, To avance your flesh, you cut and jag your clothes, And yet ye are a great gospeller in the mouth: What shall I say for this blaspheming[158] the truth? I will show you what St Paul doth declare In his Epistle to the Hebrews and the tenth chapter. For him, saith he, which doth willingly sin or consent, After he hath received the knowledge of the verity, Remaineth no more sacrifice, but a fearful looking for judgment, And a terrible[159] fire, which shall consume the adversary; And Christ saith that this blasphemy Shall never be pardoned nor forgiven In this world, nor in the world to come. JUVENTUS [_He lieth down_]. Alas, alas! what have I wrought and done! Here in this place I will fall down desperate; To ask for mercy now, I know, it is too late. Alas, alas! that ever I was begat! I would to God I had never been born! All faithful men, that behold this[160] wretched state, May very justly laugh me to scorn; They may say, my time I have evil-spent and worn, Thus in my first age to work my own destruction: In the eternal pains is my part and portion.