Edification without Assurance 'vaileth not much. Yet where they both do meet, surely their force is such, That to God's kingdom they open the way, The sweet place of rest and perpetual joy. For assurance in Christ Jesus without man's further merit, Is fully sufficient God's favour to inherit: Wherefore Light of the Gospel willed me so, That to you, Edification, with all speed I should go: So that with Sincere Doctrine we joined in unity, Might in short time conduct him to God's Perfect Felicity. PERV. DOC. I embrace you, Assurance, that bliss to obtain. ASSURANCE. Then be you assured, that you shall not be vain; For if that Christ's words be faithful and just, God's Perfect Felicity is not far hence, I trust. GOD'S FELICITY _entereth_. Verily, where Edification and Assurance in one are allied, God's Felicity is at hand, it may not be denied, Which he promiseth to such as unfeignedly crave, With Assurance that certainly the same they shall have: Which Felicity in person here I do represent, Who by God himself to the faithful am sent, Prepared for them, as he plainly hath said, Since the time that the world's foundations were laid; Wherefore great thanks unto him doubtless you owe, That it would please him such gifts on you to bestow, The most precious thing, which man's reason doth excel, No mind can conceive, much less tongue can tell. PERV. DOC. To him therefore let us give all manner praise, That beareth such affection to mankind always. O Lord, thine honour might be great in heaven so high. And throughout the whole earth thy everlasting glory. Give grace to thy people, that after this transitory Life they may come to thy perfect felicity. EDIFICATION. Defend thy church, O Christ, and thy holy congregation, Both here in England and in every other nation. That we thy truth may attain, and still follow the same, To the salvation of our souls, and glory of thy name. ASSURANCE. Preserve our noble queen Elizabeth and her council all,[35] With thy heavenly grace, sent from thy seat supernal. Grant her and them long to live, her to reign, them to see, What may always be best for the weal-public's commodity.[36] _The second_ SONG. FOOTNOTES: [32] [The usual form of the proverb is, "Need maketh the old wife trot."] [33] [Exertion, effort.] [34] _i.e._, Nursed, fostered.--_S._