CHAPTER XIII
Another question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit concerning his Lord Lucifer, with the sorrow that Faustus fell afterwards into
Doctor Faustus began again to reason with Mephostophiles, requiring him to tell him in what form and shape, and in what estimation his Lord Lucifer was when he was in favour with God. Whereupon his Spirit required of him three days’ respite, which Faustus granted. The three days being expired, Mephostophiles gave him this answer: Faustus, my Lord Lucifer (so called now, for that he was banished out of the clear light of heaven) was at the first an Angel of God, he sat on the Cherubims, and saw all the wonderful works of God, yea he was so of God ordained, for shape, pomp, authority, worthiness, and dwelling, that he far exceeded all other the creatures of God, yea our gold and precious stones: and so illuminated, that he far surpassed the brightness of the Sun and all other Stars: wherefore God placed him on the Cherubims, where he had a kingly office, and was always before God’s seat, to the end he might be the more perfect in all his beings: but when he began to be high-minded, proud, and so presumptuous that he would usurp the seat of his Majesty, then was he banished out from amongst the heavenly powers, separated from their abiding into the manner of a fiery stone, that no water is able to quench, but continually burneth until the end of the world.
Doctor Faustus, when he had heard the words of his Spirit, began to consider with himself, having diverse and sundry opinions in his head: and very pensively (saying nothing unto his Spirit) he went into his chamber, and laid him on his bed, recording the words of Mephostophiles; which so pierced his heart, that he fell into sighing and great lamentation, crying out: alas, ah, woe is me! what have I done? Even so shall it come to pass with me: am not I also a creature of God’s making, bearing his own Image and similitude, into whom he hath breathed the Spirit of life and immortality, unto whom he hath made all things living subject: but woe is me, mine haughty mind, proud aspiring stomach, and filthy flesh, hath brought my soul into perpetual damnation; yea, pride hath abused my understanding, in so much that I have forgot my maker, the Spirit of God is departed from me. I have promised the Devil my Soul: and therefore it is but a folly for me to hope for grace, but it must be even with me as with Lucifer, thrown into perpetual burning fire: ah, woe is me that ever I was born. In this perplexity lay this miserable Doctor Faustus, having quite forgot his faith in Christ, never falling to repentance truly, thereby to attain the grace and holy Spirit of God again, the which would have been able to have resisted the strong assaults of Satan: for although he had made him a promise, yet he might have remembered through true repentance sinners come again into the favour of God; which faith the faithful firmly hold, knowing they that kill the body, are not able to hurt the soul: but he was in all his opinions doubtful, without faith or hope, and so he continued.