Woodes, Nathaniel · published 1581 · first performed or written 1572 [1570-1581] (Annals) moral T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.71 · 523 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
For Socrates and Cato both, did purchase great renown, And Aristides surnamed Just, this righteousness fulfilled, Wherefore he was as justest man, expelled his native town, Yet are their souls with Infidels, in hell for ever spilled, Because they sought not righteousness, that way that God then willed The other righteousness comes from faith, which God regards alone, And makes us seem immaculate, before his heavenly throne. Wherefore, there is no cause you should, send us to outward act, As to the anchor or refuge, of our preservation. The meaning of Philologus, is not here so exact, As do his words make it to seem, by your allegation, He doth not mean between good works, and faith to make relation As though works were equivalent, salvation to attain. As is true faith, but what he meant, I will set down more plain, He did exhort the youngmen here, by him for to beware, lest as he did, so they abuse, God's gospel pure, And without good advice, usurp of faith the gift so rare: Whereby they think, what so they do, themselves from torments free, And by this proud presumption, God's anger should procure: And where they boast and vaunt, themselves, good faithful men to be, Yet in their lives, they do deny their faith in each degree: Wherefore he saith, as Peter said, see that you do make known, Your own election by your works: again, S. Iames doth say, Show me thy faith, and by my works, my faith shall thee be shown. And whereupon his own offence, he doth to them bewray, Whereas he did vaingloriously, upon a dead faith stay: Which for the inward righteousness, he always did suspect, And hereupon all godliness of life, he did neglect. That was the meaning of my words, however I them spoke, The truth (alas) vile wretch, my soul and Conscience too true feel What? do you not Philologus, with us no comfort take, When all these things, so godlily, to you I do reveal, Especially, sith that yourself, in them are seen so well: Some hope unto us of your health, and safety yet is left, we do not think that all God's grace, from you is wholly reft. Alas, what comfort can betide, unto a damned wretch? what so I here, see, feel, taste, speak, is turned all to woe. Ah dear Philologus, think not, that ought can God's grace outreach, Consider David which did sin in lust, and murder too: Yet was he pardoned of his sins, and so shalt thou also. Phil. King David always, was elect, but I am reprobate, And therefore I can find small ease, by weighing his estate. He also prayed unto God, which I shall never do, His prayer was that God would not, his spirit take away: But it is gone from me long since, and shall be given no more. But what became of Cain, of Cam, of Saul, I do you pray? Of Iudas, and Barehu, these must my Conscience slay. Of Julian Apostata, with other of that crew, The same torments must I abide, which these men did ensue:
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
For Socrates and Cato both, did purchaſe great renowne, And Ariſtides ſurnamed Iuſt, this righteouſneſſe fulfilled, Wherfore he was as iuſteſt man, erpelde his natiue towne, Yet are their ſoules with Infydels, in hell for euer ſpilled, Becauſe they ſought not righteouſnes, that way that God thē willed The other righteouſnes coms from faithe, which God regards alone, And makes vs ſeeme immaculate, before his heauenly throne. Wherfore, there is no cauſe you ſhould, ſende vs to outwarde act, As to the ancor or refuge, of our preſeruation. The meaning of Philologus, is not héere ſo exact, As doo his wordes make it to ſeeme, by your allegation, He doth not meane betwéene good works, and faith to make relation As though workes were equiuolent, ſaluation to attaine. As is true faith, but what he ment, I will ſet downe more playne, He did exhort the yongmen heere, by him for to beware, Leaſt as he did, ſo they abuſe, Gods goſpell pure, And without good aduice, vſurp of faith the gift ſo rare: Whereby they think, what ſo they doo, thē ſelues from torments frée, And by this proud preſumption, Gods anger ſhould procure: And where they boaſt and vaunt, thē ſelues, good faithfull men to bée, Yet in their lyues, they doo deny their faith in ech degrée: Wherfore he ſaith, as Peter ſaide, ſee that you doo make knowne, Your owne election by your workes: againe, S. Iames doth ſay, Shew mée thy faith, and by my works, my faith ſhall thée be ſhown. And wherupon his owne offence, he dooth to them bewray, Wheras he did vainegloryouſly, vpon a dead faith ſtay: Which for the inwarde righteouſneſſe, he alway did ſuſpect, And héereupon all godlynes of lyfe, he did neglect. That was the meaning of my wordes, how euer I them ſpake, The truth (alas) vile wretch, my ſoule and Conſcience too true féele What? do you not Philologus, with vs no comfort take, When all theſe thinges, ſo godlyly, to you I doo reueale, Eſpecially, ſith that your ſelfe, in them are ſéene ſo well: Some hope vnto vs of your health, and ſafetie yet is left, we do not think that all Gods grace, from you is wholly reft. Alas, what comfort can betide, vnto a damned wretch? what ſo I héere, ſée, féele, taſt, ſpeake, is turned all to woe. Ah deare Philologus, think not, yt ought can Gods grace outreache, Conſider Dauid which did ſinne in luſt, and murther too: Yet was he pardoned of his ſinnes, and ſo ſhalt thou alſo. Phil. King Dauid alwaies, was elect, but I am reprobate, And therefore I can finde ſmall eaſe, by waighing his eſtate. He alſo prayed vnto God, which I ſhall neuer doe, His prayer was that God would not, his ſpirit take away: But it is gone from mée long ſince, and ſhall be giuen no moe. But what became of Cayne, of Cam, of Saul, I do you pray? Of Iudas, and Barehu, theſe muſt my Conſcience ſlay. Of Iulyan Apoſtata, with other of that crue, The ſame torments muſt I abide, which theſe men did inſue: