And from the very root of heart bewail to him thy case, And, I assure thee, God will on thee his mercy show Through Jesus Christ, who is with him our advocate, you know. PHILOLOGUS. I have no faith: the words you speak my heart doth not believe. I must confess that I for sin am justly thrown to hell. EUSEBIUS. His monstrous incredulity my very heart doth grieve. Ah, dear Philologus! I have known by face and visage well A sort of men, which have been vex'd with devils and spirits fell, In far worse state than you are yet, brought into desperation, Yet in the end have been reclaimed by godly exhortation. Such are the mercies of the Lord, he will throw down to hell, And yet call back again from thence, as holy David writes. What should then let you trust in God? I pray you to us tell, Sith to forgive and do us good it chiefly him delights? What, would not you that of your sins he should you clean acquite? How can he once deny to you one thing you do request, Which hath already given to you his best-beloved Christ? Lift up your heart in hope, therefore; awhile be of good cheer, And make access unto his seat of grace by earnest prayer, And God will surely you relieve with grace, stand not in fear. PHILOLOGUS. I do believe that out from God proceed these comforts fair: So do the devils, yet of their health they alway do despair. They are not written unto me, for I would fain attain The mercy and the love of God, but he doth me disdain. How would you have that man to live, which hath no mouth to eat? No more can I live in my soul, which have no faith at all: And where you say that Peter did of Christ soon pardon get, Who in the selfsame sin with me from God did greatly fall, Why I cannot obtain the same, to you I open shall: God had respect to him always, and did him[57] firmly love, But I, alas! am reprobate; God doth my soul reprove. Moreover, I will say with tongue, whatso you will require: My heart, I feel, with blasphemy and cursing is replete. THEOLOGUS. Then pray with us, as Christ us taught, we do you all desire. PHILOLOGUS. To pray with lips unto your God you shall me soon entreat: My spirit to Satan is in thrall; I can it not thence get. EUSEBIUS. God shall renew your spirit again; pray only as you can, And to assist you in the same we pray each Christian man. PHILOLOGUS. O God, which dwellest in the heavens, and art our Father dear, Thy holy name throughout the world be ever sanctified, The kingdom of thy word and Spirit upon us rule might bear, Thy will in earth as by thy saints in heaven be ratified; Our daily bread, we thee beseech, O Lord, for us provide; Our sins remit, Lord, unto us, as we each man forgive: Let not temptation us assail; in all evil us relieve. Amen.