THEOLOGUS. Your mind corrupted doth present to you this false illusion; But turn awhile unto the spirit of truth in your distress, And it shall cast out from your eyes all horror and confusion, And of this your affliction it will you soon redress. EUSEBIUS. We have good hope, Philologus, of your salvation, doubtless. PHILOLOGUS. What your hope is concerning me, I utterly contemn: My Conscience, which for thousands stand, as guilty me condemn. EUSEBIUS. When did this horror first you take? what, think you, is the cause? PHILOLOGUS. Even shortly after I did make mine open abjuration, For that I did prefer my goods before God's holy laws. Therefore in wrath he did me send this horrible vexation, And hath me wounded in the soul with grievous tribulation, That I may be a president, in whom all men may view Those torments which to them, that will forsake the Lord, are due. THEOLOGUS. Yet let me boldly ask one thing of you without offence: What was your former faith in Christ, which you before did hold? For it is said of holy Paul, in these same words in sense: It cannot be that utterly in faith he should be cold, Whoso he be, which perfectly true faith in heart once hold. Wherefore rehearse in short discourse the sum of your belief, In those points chiefly, which for health of soul are thought most chief. PHILOLOGUS. I did believe in heart that Christ was that true sacrifice, Which did appease the Father's wrath, and that by him alone We were made just and sanctified: I did believe, likewise, That without him heaven to attain sufficient means were none. But to reknowledge this again alas! all grace was gone: I never loved him again with right and sincere heart, Neither was thankful for the same, as was each good man's part. But rather took the faith of Christ for liberty to sin, And did abuse his graces great to further carnal lust. What wickedness I did commit, I cared not a pin; For that[60] Christ discharged had my ransom, I did trust: Wherefore the Lord doth now correct the same with torments just. My sons, my sons, I speak to you: my counsel ponder well, And practise that in deeds which I in words shall to you tell. I speak not this, that I would ought the gospel derogate, Which is most true in every part, I must it needs confess; But this I say, that of vain faith alone you should not prate, But also by your holy life you should your faith express: Believe me, sirs, for by good proof these things I do express. Peruse the writing of St James, and first of Peter too, Which all God's people holiness of life exhort unto. By sundry reasons--as for, first, because we strangers are; Again, sin from the flesh proceed, but we are of the spirit; The third, because the flesh alway against the spirit do war; The fourth, that we may stop the mouths of such as would backbite; The fifth, that other by our lives to God reduce we might: Again, they sing a pleasant song, which sing in deed and word,