JUVENTUS.
O Lord, grant me of thy infinite[54] mercy
[He kneeleth.
The true knowledge of thy[55] law and will,
And illumine my heart with spirit continually,
That I may[56] be apt thy holy precepts to fulfil;
Strengthen me, that I may persever still
Thy commandments to obey:
And then shall I never slip nor fall away.
[He riseth.
GOOD COUNSEL.
Full true be these words, which Christ himself did say,
He that seeketh shall surely find.
KNOWLEDGE entereth.
Behold, Youth, now rejoice we may,
For I see Knowledge of God['s][57] Verity stand here behind:
He is come now to satisfy your mind
In those things which you will desire;
Therefore together let us approach him near.
JUVENTUS.
Ah, Good Counsel, now[58] it doth appear,
That God never rejecteth the humbles[t] petition.
KNOWLEDGE.
Now the Lord bless you all with his heavenly benediction,
And with his fiery love your hearts inflame,
That of his merciful promises you may have the fruition,
The subtlety of the devil utterly to defame.
Now, good Christian audience, I will express my name,
The True Knowledge of God's Verity, this[59] my name doth hight,
Whom God hath appointed to give the blind their sight.
GOOD COUNSEL.
All praise be given to that Lord of might,
Which hath appointed you hither at this present hour;
For I trust you will so instruct youth aright,
That he shall live according to God's pleasure.
JUVENTUS.
And I thank Jesus Christ my Saviour,
That he is come to my company.
KNOWLEDGE.
I thank you, my friends, most heartily
For your gentle salutation.
JUVENTUS.
Sir, I will be so bold, by your deliberation,
To open my mind unto you now,
Trusting that, by your good exhortation,
I shall learn those things which I never knew:
This one thing chiefly I would learn of you,
How I may my life in this my vocation lead,
According as God hath ordained and decreed.