MATHETES. This is the sum of all your talk, if that I guess aright, That God doth punish his elect to keep their faith in ure, Or lest that, if continual ease and rest enjoy they might, God to forget through haughtiness frail nature should procure; Or else by feeling punishment our sins for to abjure; Or else to prove our constancy; or lastly, that we may Be instruments, in whom his might God may abroad display. Now must I needs confess to you my former ignorance, Which knew no cause at all, why God should trouble his elect, But thought afflictions all to be rewards for our offence, And to proceed from wrathful judge did alway it suspect; As do the common sort of men, who will straightway direct, And point their fingers at such men as God doth chastise here, Esteeming them by just desert their punishment to bear. PHILOLOGUS. Such is the nature of mankind, himself to justify, And to condemn all other men, whereas we ought of right Accuse ourselves especial, and God to magnify, Who in his mercy doth us spare, whereas he also might, Sith that we do the selfsame things, with like plagues us requite: Which thing our Saviour Christ doth teach, as testifieth Luke, The thirteenth chapter, where he doth vainglorious men rebuke. But for this time let this suffice: now let us homeward go, And further talk in private place, if need be, we will have. MATHETES. With right good-will I will attend on you your house unto, Or else go you with me to mine, the longer journey save; For it is now high dinner-time: my stomach meat doth crave. PHILOLOGUS. I am soon bidden to my friend: come on; let us depart. MATHETES. Go you before, and I will come behind with all my heart. [_Exeunt_. ACT II., SCENE 1.