The Life and Repentance of Mary Magdalene · chunk 23 of 38
Wager, Lewis · published 1566 · first performed or written 1558 [c.1550-1566] (Annals) moral T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.72 · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
O this knowledge of sin is so in my sight, That if I should die truly I can not be merry. We will rid the knave hence anon by this light. Or else of his life I will soon make him weary. O sinner, from thy heart put that infidelity, Which hath drowned thee already in the pit of hell, Trust thou in God's might and possibility, Whereof neither angel nor man is able to tell. That thing in deed, which to man is impossible, Is a small thing for God to bring to pass, This mercy to all senses is comprehensible, Which he will declare by his holy Messiah. That thing which I can not do through my infirmity God is able by his son to perform in time appointed, All my contents be shadows of his majesty, Whom now in this time God hath anointed. That Messiah alone only shall the law fulfil, And his fulfilling shall be in such acceptation, That God for his sake shall pardon mankyndes ill, Accepting his offering for a full contentation. That Messiah is the stone spoken of before, Which of vain builders should be refused, Yet he shall be the corner stone of honour, Which in the building of god's temple shall be used. And all that trust in him with true believe, That he is very God and man, into this world sent, God will all their sins for his sake forgive, So that they can be contrite and repent. I ever believed yet unto this day, That God was able of nothing all things to make, And as well I believe also that he may, forgive, and mercy upon sinners take, But seeing that he hath made a determination, By a law that none shall be saved good or bad, Then he that would look for any salvation, Truly I take him ten times for worse than mad. He that will not the keepers of the law save, Which observe diligently his commandments, Much less truly on them mercy he will have, Which have contemned all his words & judgements. Well Mary, I have condemned thee unto hell fire, Yet not so condemned thee, but if thou canst believe In that Messiah, which for thee doth inquire, There is no doubt but thy sins he will forgive. Thy sore is known, receive thy salve and medicine, I have the sick to the leech, give good ear, Hearken diligently unto his good discipline, And he will heal thee, do nothing fear. Let me feel your pulses mistress Mary be you sick By my troth in as good temper as any woman can be Your veins are full of blood, lusty and quick, In better taking truly I did you never see. The body is whole, but sick is the conscience, Which neither the law nor man is able to heal, It is the word of God received with penitence, Like as the book of wisdom doth plainly reveal.
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)
O this knowledge of synne is so in my syght, That if I should dye truely I can not be mery. We will ridde the knaue hence anon by this light. Or else of his life I will soone make him wearie. O synner, from thy heart put that infidelitie, Which hath drowned thee already in the pit of hell, Trust thou in Gods might and possibilitie, Wherof neither angell nor man is able to tell. That thing in dede, whiche to man is impossible, Is a small thyng for God to bryng to passe, This mercy to all senses is comprehensible, Which he will declare by his holy Messias. That thing which I cā not do through my infirmity God is able by his son to perform in tyme appointed, All my contentes be shadowes of his maiestie, Whom now in this tyme God hath anoynted. That Messias alone onely shall the law fulfill, And his fulfilling shall be in suche acceptation, That God for his sake shall pardon mankyndes yll, Acceptyng his offeryng for a full contentation. That Messias is the stone spoken of before, Which of vayne builders should be refused, Yet he shall be the corner stone of honour, Which in the building of gods tēple shal be vsed. And all that trust in hym with true beleue, That he is very God and man, into this world sent, God will all their synnes for his sake forgeue, So that they can be contrite and repent. I euer beleued yet vnto this day, That God was able of nothyng all things to make, And as well I beleue also that he may, Forgeue, and mercy vpon synners take, But seyng that he hath made a determination, By a law that none shall be saued good or badde, Then he that would looke for any saluation, Truly I take hym ten tymes for worse than madde. He that will not the kepers of the law saue, Which obserue diligently his commaundementes, Much lesse truly on them mercy he will haue, Which haue contemned all his words & iudgements. Wel Mary, I haue condemned thee vnto hell fyre, Yet not so condemned thee, but if thou canst beleue In that Messias, which for thee doth enquire, There is no doubt but thy sinnes he will forgeue. Thy sore is knowen, receiue thy salue and medicine, I haue the sicke to the leache, geue good eare, Hearken diligently vnto his good discipline, And he will heale thee, doe nothyng feare. Let me fele your poulses mistresse Mary be you sick By my trouth in as good tēpre as any woman can be Your vaines are full of bloud, lusty and quicke, In better taking truly I did you neuer see. The body is whole, but sick is the conscience, Which neither the law nor man is able to heale, It is the word of God receyued with penitence, Like as the boke of wisedome doth plainly reueale.