Woodes, Nathaniel · published 1581 · first performed or written 1572 [1570-1581] (Annals) moral T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.80 · 486 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Alas my friend, take in good part, the chastment of the Lord Who doth correct you in this world, that in the life to come, He might you saue, for of the like, the Scripture teares re That is not God's intent with me though it be so with some, who after Body's punishment, have into favour come: But I (alas) in spirit and soul, these grievous torments bear, God hath condemned my Conscience, to perpetual grief and fear. I would most gladly choose to live, a thousand, thousand year. In all the torments and the grief that damned souls sustain, So that at length I might have ease, it would me greatly cheer. But I alas, shall in this life, in torments still remain, while God's just anger, upon me, shall be revealed plain: And I example made to all, of God's just indionation, Oh that my body were at rest, and soul in condemnation. I pray you answer me herein, where you by deep despair, Say, you are worse here in this life, then if you were in hell, And for because to have death come, you always make your prayer, As though your foul and body both in torments great did dwell: If that a man should give to you a sword, I pray you tell, would you destroy yourself there with? as do the desperate, which hang or kill, or into floods, themselves precipitate. Give me a sword, then shall you know, what is in mine intent. Not so my friend, I only ask, what herein were your will? I cannot, neither will I tell, whereto I would be bent. These words do nothing edify, but rather fancies fill, which we would gladly if we could, endeavour for to kill. wherefore, I once again request, together let us pray: And so we will leave you to God, and send you hence away. I cannot pray, my spirit is dead, no faith in me remain Do as you can, no more than might, we can ask at your hand. My prayers turned is to sin, for God doth it disdain, It is the falsehood of the spirit, which do your health withstand, That teach you this, wherefore in time, reject his filthy band. Come kneel by me, and let us pray, the Lord of Heaven unto: With as good will as did the Devil, out of the deaf man go. O God which dwellest in the heavens. etc. Tush sirs, you do your labours lose, see where Belsabub doth come, And doth invite me to a feast, you therefore speak in vain, Yea if you ask aught more of me, in answer I will be dumb, I will not waste my song for nought, as soon shall one small grain Of Mustardseed, fill all the world, as I true faith attain. We will no longer stay you now, but let you hence depart.
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)
Alas my friend, take in good part, the chaſtment of ye Lorde Who doth correct you in this world, that in the lyfe to come, He might you ſaue, for of the like, the Scripture teares re That is not Gods intent with mée though it be ſo with ſome, who after bodies puniſhment, haue into fauour come: But I (alas) in ſpirit and ſoule, theſe greenous torments beare, God hath condemded my Coſcience, to perpetuall greife and feare. I would moſt gladly chuſe to lyue, a thouſand, thouſande yeare. In all the torments and the griefe that damned ſoules ſuſtaine, So that at length I might haue eaſe, it would me greatly cheare. But I alas, ſhall in this lyfe, in torments ſtill remaine, while Gods iuſt anger, vpon mee, ſhall be reuealed plaine: And I example made to all, of Gods iuſt indionation, Oh that my body were at reſt, and ſoule in condemnation. I pray you anſwer me herein, where you by déepe diſpaire, Say, you are worſe here in this lyfe, then if you were in hell, And for becauſe to haue death come, you alway make your prayer, As though your foule and body both in torments great did dwell: If that a man ſhould giue to you a ſword, I pray you tell, would you deſtroy your ſelfe there with? as doe the deſperate, which hange or kill, or into flouds, themſelues precipitate. Giue me a ſworde, then ſhall you know, what is in mine intent. Not ſo my friend, I onely aſke, what héerein were your will? I cannot, neither will I tell, wherto I would be bent. Theſe wordes doe nothing edifye, but rather fancies fill, which we would gladly if we could, indeuour for to kill. wherefore, I once againe requeſt, together let vs pray: And ſo we will leaue you to God, and ſend you hene away. I cannot pray, my ſpirit is dead, no faith in me remayne Doe as you can, no more then might, we can aſk at your hand. My prayers turned is to ſinne, for God doth it diſdaine, It is the falſhood of the ſpirit, which doo your health withſtande, That teach you this, wherfore in time, reiect his filthy bande. Come knéele by mee, and let vs pray, the Lord of Heauen vnto: With as good will as did the Diuell, out of the deaffe man goe. O God which dwelleſt in the heauens. &c. Tuſh ſirs, you doo your labours looſe, ſee where Belzabub doth come, And doth inuite mee to a feaſt, you therefore ſpeake in vaine, ea if you aſke ought more of me▪ in anſwer I will be dumbe, I will not waſt my ong for naught, as ſoone ſhall one ſmall grayne Of Muſterdſeede, fill all the world, as I true faith attaine. We will no lenger ſtay you now, but let you hence depart.