THE POET. When Adam, for breaking God's commandment, Had sentence of death, and all his posterity: Yet the Lord our God, who is omnipotent, Had in his own self by his eternal decree Appointed to restore man, and to make him free. He purposed to save mankind by his mercy, Whom he once had created unto his glory. Yet not all flesh did he then predestinate, But only the adopted children of promise: For he foreknew that many would degenerate, And wilfully give cause to be put from that bliss, So on God's behalf no manner default there is; But where he chooseth, he showeth his great mercy: And where he refuseth, he doth none injury, But thus far surmounteth man's intellection,[290] To attain or conceive, and (much more) to discuss: All must be referred to God's election And to his sacred judgment. It is meet for us, With Paul the apostle, to confess, and say thus: O, the deepness of the riches of God's wisdom! How unsearchable are his ways to man's reason? Our part therefore is first to believe God's word, Not doubting but that he will his elected save: Then to put full trust in the goodness of the Lord, That we be of the number, which shall mercy have: Thirdly, so to live, as we may his promise crave. Thus if we do, we shall Abraham's children be, And come with Jacob to endless felicity. [_All the rest of the actors answer, Amen_. _Then followeth the prayer_. ISAAC. Now unto God let us pray for all the whole clergy, To give them grace to advance God's honour and glory. REBECCA. Then for the Queen's majesty let us pray Unto God to keep her in health and wealth night and day, And that, of his mere mercy and great benignity, He will defend and maintain her estate and dignity; That she, being grieved with any outward hostility, May against her enemies always have victory. JACOB. God save the Queen's councillors most noble and true, And with all godliness their noble hearts endue. ESAU. Lord save the nobility and preserve them all: And prosper the Queen's subjects universal. AMEN. _Thus endeth this Comedy or Enterlude of Jacob and Esau_. THE DISOBEDIENT CHILD. THE PLAYER'S NAMES. THE PROLOGUE SPEAKER. THE YOUNG WOMAN. THE RICH MAN. THE SERVINGMAN. THE RICH MAN'S SON. THE PRIEST. THE MAN COOK. THE DEVIL. THE WOMAN COOK. THE PERORATOR. MR HALLIWELL'S PREFACE TO THE FORMER EDITION.[291]