Part 12

_Pater Cœlestis._ After that this flood have had his raging passage This shall be to thee my covenant everlasting. The seas and waters so far never more shall rage, As all flesh to drown, I will so temper their working; This sign will I add also, to confirm the thing, In the clouds above, as a seal or token clear, For safeguard of man, my rainbow shall appear. Take thou this covenant for an earnest confirmation Of my former promise to Adam's generation.

_Noah._ I will, blessed Lord, with my whole heart and mind.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Farewell then, just Noah, here leave I thee behind,

_Noah._ Most mighty Maker, ere I from hence depart, I must give thee praise from the bottom of my heart. Whom may we thank, Lord, for our health and salvation But thy great mercy and goodness undeserved? Thy promise, in faith, is our justification, As it was Adam's when his heart therein rested, And as it was theirs which therein also trusted. This faith was grounded in Adam's memory, And clearly declared in Abel's innocency. Faith in that promise old Adam did justify, In that promise faith made Eve to prophecy. Faith in that promise proved Abel innocent, In that promise faith made Seth full obedient. That faith taught Enoch on God's name first to call, And made Methuselah the oldest man of all. That faith brought Enoch to so high exercise, That God took him up with him into Paradise. Of that faith the want made Cain to hate the good, And all his offspring to perish in the flood. Faith in that promise preserved both me and mine: So will it all them which follow the same line. Not only this gift thou hast given me, sweet Lord, But with it also thine everlasting covenant Of trust forever, thy rainbow bearing record, Never more to drown the world by flood inconstant; Alack! I cannot to thee give praise condign, Yet will I sing here with heart meek and benign.

[_Then in a great voice he begins an antiphon, "O Oriens Splendor," falling upon his knees while the chorus follows with instruments, as before._

O most orient clearness, and light shining of the sempiternal brightness! O clear sun of justice and heavenly righteousness, come hither and illuminate the prisoner sitting in the dark prison and shadow of Eternal Death.

## ACT III

OF FAITHFUL ABRAHAM

_Pater Cœlestis._ Mine high displeasure must needs return to man, Considering the sin that he doth day by day; For neither kindness nor extreme handling can Make him to know me by any faithful way, But still in mischief he walketh to his decay. If he do not soon his wickedness consider, He is like, doubtless, to perish altogether. In my sight, he is more venym[611] than the spider, Through such abuses as he hath exercised, From the time of Noah to this same season hither. An uncomely act without shame Ham commysed.[612] When he of his father the secret parts revealed. In like case Nimrod against me wrought abusion As he raised up the castle of confusion. Mirus hath also, and all by the devil's illusion Through image-making, up raised idolatry, Me to dishonour. And now in the conclusion The vile Sodomites live so unnaturally That their sin vengeance asketh continually, For my covenant's sake, I will not drown with water, Yet shall I visit their sins with other matter.

_Abraham._ Yet, merciful Lord, thy graciousness remember To Adam and Noah, both in thy word and promise: And lose not the souls of men in so great number But save thine own work, of thy most discreet goodness. I wot thy mercies are plentiful and earnest, Never can they die nor fail, thyself enduring, This hath faith fixed fast in my understanding.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Abraham my servant, for thy most faithful meaning, Both thou and thy stock shall have my plenteous blessing. When the unfaithful, under my curse evermore, For their vain working, shall rue their wickedness sore.

_Abraham._ Tell me, blessed Lord, where will thy great malice light? My hope is, all flesh shall not perish in thy sight.

_Pater Cœlestis._ No truly, Abraham, thou chancest upon the right, The thing I shall do I will not hide from thee, Whom I have blessed for thy true fidelity: For I know thou wilt cause both thy children and servants, In my ways to walk, and trust unto my covenants, That I may perform with thee my earnest promise.

_Abraham._ All that I will do, by assistance of thy goodness.

_Pater Cœlestis._ From Sodom and Gomor the abominations call For my great vengeance, which will upon them fall, Wild fire and brimstone shall light upon them all.

_Abraham._ Pitiful Maker, though they have kindled thy fury, Cast not away yet the just sort with the ungodly. Peradventure there may be fifty righteous persons Within those cities, wilt thou lose them all at once, And not spare the place for those fifty righteous' sake Be it far from thee such rigour to undertake. I hope there is not in thee so cruel hardness, As to cast away the just men with the reckless, And so to destroy the good with the ungodly: In the judge of all: be never such a fury.

_Pater Cœlestis._ At Sodom, if I may find just persons fifty, The place will I spare for their sakes verily.

_Abraham._ I take upon me to speak here in thy presence, More than becomes me, lord, pardon my negligence: I am but ashes and were loth thee to offend.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Say forth, good Abraham, for ill dost thou not intend.

_Abraham._ Haply there may be five less in the same number, For thy sake I hope thou wilt not the rest accombre.[613]

_Pater Cœlestis._ If I among them might find but five and forty Them would I not lose for that just company.

_Abraham._ What if the city may forty righteous make?

_Pater Cœlestis._ Then will I pardon it for those same forty's sake.

_Abraham._ Be not angry, Lord, though I speak undiscreetly.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Utter thy whole mind and spare me not hardly.

_Abraham._ Peradventure there may be thirty found among them.

_Pater Cœlestis._ May I find thirty, I will nothing do unto them.

_Abraham._ I take upon me too much, Lord, in thy sight.

_Pater Cœlestis._ No, no, good Abraham, for I know thy faith is right.

_Abraham._ No less, I suppose, than twenty can it have.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Could I find twenty, that city would I save.

_Abraham._ Once yet will I speak my mind, and then no more.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Spare not to utter so much as thou hast in store.

_Abraham._ And what if there might be ten good creatures found?

_Pater Cœlestis._ The rest for their sakes might so be safe and sound, And not destroyed for their abomination.

_Abraham._ O merciful Maker, much is thy toleration And sufferance of sin: I see it now indeed; Vouchsafe yet of favour out of those cities to lead Those that be faithful, though their flock be but small.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Lot and his household, I will deliver all, For righteousness sake, which is of me and not them.

_Abraham._ Great are thy graces in the generation of Shem.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Well, Abraham, well, for thy true faithfulness Now will I give thee my covenant or third promise. Look thou believe it as thou covetest righteousness.

_Abraham._ Lord, so regard me as I receive it with gladness.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Of many peoples the father I will make thee, All generations in thy seed shall be blessed: As the stars of heaven, so shall thy kindred be; And by the same seed the world shall be redressed In circumcision shall this thing be expressed, As in a sure seal, to prove my promise true, Print this in thy faith, and it shall thy soul renew.

_Abraham._ I will not one jot, Lord, from thy will dissent But to thy pleasure be always obedient, Thy laws to fulfil, and most precious commandment.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Farewell, Abraham, for here in place I leave thee.

_Abraham._ Thanks will I render, like as it shall behove me. Everlasting praise to thy most glorious name, Which savedst Adam through faith in thy sweet promise Of the woman's seed, and now confirmest the same In the seed of me. Forsooth great is thy goodness. I cannot perceive but that thy mercy is endless. To such as fear thee, in every generation, For it endureth without abbreviation. This have I printed in deep consideration, No worldly matter can rase it out of mind. For once it will be the final restoration Of Adam and Eve, and other that hath sinned; Yea, the sure health and race of mankind. Help have the faithful thereof, though they be infect; They, condemnation, where as it is reject. Merciful Maker, my crabbed voice direct, That it may break out in some sweet praise to thee; And suffer me not thy due lauds to neglect, But let me show forth thy commendations free. Stop not my windpipes, but give them liberty, To sound to thy name, which is most gracious, And in it rejoice with heart melodious.

[_Then in a loud voice he begins the antiphon, "O rex gentium," the chorus following the same with instruments._

O most mighty Governor of thy people, and in heart most desired, the hard rock and the true corner-stone, that of two maketh one, uniting the Jews with the Gentiles in one church, come now and relieve mankind, whom thou hast formed of the vile earth.

## ACT IV

MOSES SANCTUS

_Pater Cœlestis._ Still so increaseth the wickedness of man, That I am moved with plagues him to confound. His weakness to aid, I do the best I can, Yet he regardeth me no more than doth a hound, My word and promise in his faith taketh no ground; He will so long walk in his own lusts at large, That naught he shall find his folly to discharge. Since Abraham's time, which was my true elect, Ishmael have I found both wicked, fierce and cruel: And Esau in mind with hateful murder infect. The sons of Jacob to lusts unnatural fell, And into Egypt did they their brother sell. Laban to idols gave faithful reverence, Dinah was corrupt through Shechem's violence. Reuben abused his father's concubine, Judah got children of his own daughter-in-law: Yea, she in my sight went after a wicked line. His seed Onan spilt, his brother's name to withdraw. Achan lived here without all godly awe. And now the children of Israel abuse my power In so vile manner that they move me every hour.

_Moses._ Pacify thy wrath, sweet Lord, I thee desire, As thou art gentle, benign, and patient, Lose not that people in fierceness of thine ire For whom thou hast shewed such tokens evident, Converting this rod into a lively serpent, And the same serpent into this rod again, Thy wonderful power declaring very plain. For their sakes also puttest Pharaoh to pain By ten divers plagues, as I shall here declare. By blood, frogs, and lice; by flies, death, botch and blain;[614] By hail, by grasshoppers, by darkness, and by care; By a sudden plague, all their first gotten ware, Thou slewest, in one night, for his fierce cruelness. From that thy people withhold not now thy goodness.

_Pater Cœlestis._ I certify thee, my chosen servant Moses, That people of mine is full of unthankfulness.

_Moses._ Dear Lord, I know it, alas! yet weigh their weakness, And bear with their faults, of thy great bounteousness. In a flaming bush having to them respect, Thou appointedst me their passage to direct, And through the Red Sea thy right hand did us lead Where Pharaoh's host the flood overwhelmed indeed. Thou wentest before them in a shining cloud all day And in the dark night in fire thou shewedst their way. Thou sentest them manna from heaven to be their food. Out of the hard stone thou gavest them water good. Thou appointedst them a land of milk and honey. Let them not perish for want of thy great mercy.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Content they are not with foul nor yet with fair, But murmur and grudge as people in despair. As I sent manna they had it in disdain, Thus of their welfare they many times complain. Over Amalek I gave them the victory.

_Moses._ Most glorious Maker, all that is to thy glory. Thou sentest them also a law from heaven above, And daily shewedst them many tokens of great love. The brazen serpent thou gavest them for their healing, And Balaam's curse thou turnedst into a blessing. I hope thou wilt not disdain to help them still.

_Pater Cœlestis._ I gave them precepts, which they will not fulfil Nor yet acknowledge me for their God and good Lord, So do their vile deeds with their wicked hearts accord Whilst thou hast talked with me familiarly On Sinai's mountain, the space but of days forty, These sights all they have forgotten clearly, And are turned to shameful idolatry. For their God, they have set up a golden calf.

_Moses._ Let me say something, sweet Father, in their behalf.

_Pater Cœlestis._ I will first conclude, and then say on thy mind. For that I have found that people so unkind, Not one of them shall enjoy the promise of me, For entering the land, but Caleb and Josue.[615]

_Moses._ Thy eternal will evermore fulfilled be. For disobedience thou slewest the sons of Aaron, The earth swallowed in both Dathan and Abiron. The adders did sting other wicked persons else, In wonderful number. Thus hast thou punished rebels.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Never will I spare the cursed iniquity. Of idolatry, for no cause, thou mayst trust me.

_Moses._ Forgive them yet, Lord, for this time, if it may be.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Thinkest thou that I will so soon change my decree? No, no, friend Moses, so light thou shalt not find me. I will punish them all; Israel shall it see.

_Moses._ I know, thy people have wrought abomination, Worshipping false gods, to thy honour's derogation, Yet mercifully thou mayest upon them look; And if thou wilt not, thrust me out of thy book.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Those great blasphemers shall out of my book clean, But thou shalt not so, for I know what thou dost mean. Conduct my people, mine angel shall assist thee, That sin in a day will not uncorrected be. And for the true zeal that thou to my people hast, I add this covenant unto my promises past. Raise them up I will a prophet from among them, Not unlike to thee, to speak my words unto them. Whoso heareth not that he shall speak in my name, I will revenge it to his perpetual shame. The passover lamb will be a token just Of this strong covenant. This have I clearly discussed, In my appointment this hour for your deliverance.

_Moses._ Never shall this thing depart from my remembrance. Praise be for ever to thee, most merciful Lord, Who never withdrawest from man thy heavenly comfort, But from age to age thy benefits do record What thy goodness is, and hath been to his sort. As we find thy grace, so ought we to report. And doubtless it is to us most bounteous, Yea, for all our sins most ripe and plenteous. Abraham our father found thee benevolous,[616] So did good Isaac in his distress among. To Jacob thou wert a guide most gracious. Joseph thou savedst from dangerous deadly wrong, Melchisedec and Job felt thy great goodness strong, So did good Sarah, Rebecca, and fair Rachel, With Zephorah my wife, the daughter of Raguel. To praise thee, sweet Lord, my faith doth me compel, For thy covenant's sake wherein rests our salvation, The seed of promise, all other seeds excel, For therein remaineth our full justification. From Adam to Noah, in Abraham's generation, That seed procureth God's mighty grace and power; For the same seed's sake, I will sing now this hour.

[_Then he begins to sing an antiphon in a clear voice, "O Emmanuel," which the chorus (as before) follows with instruments._

O high king Emmanuel, and our liege Lord! the long expectation of the Gentiles, and the mighty Saviour of their multitude, the health and consolation of sinners, come now to save us, as our Lord and our Redeemer.

## ACT V

OF PIUS KING DAVID

_Pater Cœlestis._ For all the favour I have shewed Israel, Delivering it from Pharaoh's tyranny, And giving the land, _fluentem lac et mel_,[617] Yet will it not leave its old idolatry, Nor know me for God. I abhor its misery. Vexed it I have with battles and decays, Still must I plague it, I see no other ways.

_David._ Remember yet, Lord, thy worthy servant Moses, Walking in thy sight, without rebuke of thee. Both Aaron, Jethro, Eleazar, and Phinees,[618] Evermore feared to offend thy majesty, Much thou acceptedst thy servant Josue.[619] Caleb and Othniel sought thee with all their heart, Aioth and Sangar for thy folk did their part. Gideon and Tholus thy enemies put to smart, Jair and Jephtha gave praises to thy name. These, to leave idols, thy people did court. Samson the strongest, for his part did the same. Samuel and Nathan thy messages did proclaim. What though fierce Pharaoh wrought mischief in thy sight, He was a pagan, lay not that in our light. I know the Benjamites abused the ways of right, So did Eli's sons, and the sons of Samuel. Saul in his office was slothful day and night, Wicked was Shimei, so was Ahitophel. Measure not by them the faults of Israel, Whom thou hast loved of long time so entirely, But of thy great grace remit its wicked folly.

_Pater Cœlestis._ I cannot abide the vice of idolatry, Though I should suffer all other villany. When Joshua was dead, that sort from me did fall To the worshipping of Ashteroth and Baal, Full unclean idols, and monsters bestial.

_David._ For it they have had thy righteous punishment, And forasmuch as they did wickedly consent To the Philistines and Canaanites ungodly Idolaters, taking to them in matrimony, Thou threwest them under the King of Mesopotamy, After thou subduedst them for their idolatry. Eighteen years to Eglon, the King of Moabites, And twenty years to Jabin, the King of Canaanites, Oppressed they were seven years by the Midianites, And eighteen years vexed by the cruel Ammonites. In three great battles, of three score thousand and five, Of this thy people, not one was left alive. Have mercy now, Lord, and call them to repentance.

_Pater Cœlestis._ So long as they sin, so long shall they have grievance. David my servant, something must I say to thee, For that thou lately hast wrought such vanity.

_David._ Spare not, blessed Lord, but say thy pleasure to me.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Of late days thou hast misused Bathsheba, The wife of Uriah, and slain him in the field.

_David._ Mercy, Lord, mercy; for doubtless I am defiled.

_Pater Cœlestis._ I constitute thee a king over Israel, And thee preserved from Saul, who was thine enemy. Yea, in my favour, so much thou didst excel, That of thine enemies I gave thee victory. Philistines and Syrians to thee came tributary. Why hast thou then wrought such folly in my sight. Despising my word, against all godly right?

_David._ I have sinned, Lord, I beseech thee, pardon me,

_Pater Cœlestis._ Thou shalt not die, David, for this iniquity, For thy repentance; but thy son by Bathsheba Shall die, forasmuch as my name is blasphemed Among my enemies, and thou the worse esteemed. From thy house for this the sword shall not depart.

_David._ I am sorry, Lord, from the bottom of my heart.

_Pater Cœlestis._ To further anger thou dost me yet compel.

_David._ For what matter, Lord? I beseech thy goodness tell.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Why didst thou number the children of Israel? Supposest in thy mind therein thou hast done well?

_David._ I cannot say nay, but I have done indiscreetly To forget thy grace for a human policy.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Thou shalt of these three choose which plague thou wilt have, For that sinful act, that I thy soul may save. A scarceness seven years, or else three months' exile, If not, for three days a pestilence most vile, For one thou must have, there is no remedy.

_David._ Lord, at thy pleasure, for thou art full of mercy.

_Pater Cœlestis._ Of a pestilence then, three score thousand and ten, In three days shall die of thy most puissant men.

_David._ O Lord, it is I who have offended thy grace, Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespace.[620]

_Pater Cœlestis._ Though thy sins be great, thine inward heart's contribution Doth move my stomach in wonderful condition. I find thee a man according to my heart; Wherefore this promise I make thee, ere I depart. A fruit there shall come forth issuing from thy body, Whom I will advance upon thy seat for ever. His throne shall become a seat of heavenly glory His worthy sceptre from right will not dissever, His happy kingdom, of faith shall perish never. Of heaven and of earth he was author principal, And will continue, though they do perish all. This sign shalt thou have for a token special, That thou mayst believe my words unfeignedly, Where thou hast minded, for my memorial, To build a temple, thou shalt not finish it truly; But Solomon thy son shall do that action worthy, In token that Christ must finish everything That I have begun, to my praise everlasting.

_David._ Immortal glory to thee, most heavenly King, For that thou hast given continual victory To me thy servant, ever since my annointing, And also before, by many conquests worthy. A bear and lion I slew through thy strength only. I slew Goliath, who was six cubits long. Against thine enemies thou madest me ever strong. My fleshly frailness made me do deadly wrong, And clean to forget thy laws of righteousness. And though thou visitedst my sinfulness among, With pestilent plagues, and other unquietness; Yet never tookst thou from me thy plenteousness Of thy godly spir't, which thou in me didst plant. I having remorse, thy grace could never want. For in conclusion, thy everlasting covenant Thou gavest unto me for all my wicked sin; And hast promised here by protestation constant, That one of my seed shall such high fortune win, As never did man since this world did begin. By his power he shall put Satan from his hold, In rejoice whereof to sing will I be bold.

[_Then he begins in a musical voice an antiphon, "O Adonai," which the chorus (as before) follows with instruments._

O Lord God Adonai, and guide of the faithful house of Israel, who sometime appearedst in the flaming bush to Moses, and to him didst give a law on Mount Sinai, come now to redeem us in the strength of thy right hand.

## ACT VI

OF THE PROPHET ESAIAS

_Pater Cœlestis._ I brought up children from their first infancy, Who now despise all my godly instructions. An ox knoweth its lord, an ass its master's duty, But Israel will not know me, nor my conditions. Oh, froward people, given all to superstitions, Unnatural children, expert in blasphemies, Provoke me into hate, by their idolatries. Take heed to my words, ye tyrants of Sodoma, In vain ye offer your sacrifice to me. Discontent I am with you beasts of Gomorrah And have no pleasure when I your offerings see. I abhor your fasts and your solemnity, For your traditions my ways ye set apart, Your works are in vain, I hate them from the heart.