_Esaias._ Thy praises condign no mortal tongue can tell, Most worthy maker and king of heavenly glory, For all capacities thy goodness doth excel, Thy plenteous graces no brain can compass truly, No wit can conceive the greatness of thy mercy, Declared of late in David thy true servant, And now confirmed in this thy later covenant. Of goodness thou madest Solomon of wit more pregnant, Asa and Josaphat, with good king Hezechiah, In thy sight to do that was to thee right pleasant. To quench idolatry thou raisedst up Elijah Jehu, Elisha, Micah, and Obdiah, The Syrian Naaman thou purgedst of a lepry[623] Thy works wonderful who can but magnify? Arise, Jerusalem, and take faith by and by,[624] For the very light that shall save thee is coming. The Son of the Lord appear will evidently, When he shall resort, see that no joy be wanting. He is thy saviour, and thy life everlasting, Thy release from sin, and thy whole righteousness, Help me in this song t' acknowledge his great goodness. [_Then in a tuneful voice he begins an antiphon, "O radix Jesse," which the chorus follows with instruments._ O fruitful root of Jesse, that shall be set as a sign among people, against the worldly rulers shall fiercely open their mouths, whom the Gentiles worship as their heavenly Lord. Come now to deliver us, and delay the time no longer. ACT VII OF JOHN THE BAPTIST _Pater Cœlestis._ I have with fierceness mankind oft-times corrected, And again I have allured him by sweet promise. I have sent sore plagues, when he hath me neglected, And then by and by, most comfortable sweetness. To win him to grace, both mercy and righteousness I have exercised, yet will he not amend. Shall I now lose him, or shall I him defend? In his most mischief, most high grace will I send To overcome him by favour, if it may be. With his abuses no longer will I contend But now accomplish my first will and decree. My word being flesh, from hence shall set him free, Him teaching a way of perfect righteousness, That he shall not need to perish in his weakness.