Actio. And I to do by your counsel, if ye say well.
St. John. Now I begin; give good audience!
Two men ascended once to a temple to pray, C3,r.
Their conversation having great difference.
It was the Pharisien and the Publican, I say.
Two ensamples by them perceive we may.
The great pride of the Pharisee:
Other men's faults he dispraised aye,
And his own counsel hid under false hue.
In the Publican's prayers there was than
A great excellence of meekness;
He despised himself, a wretched man,
Thinking each creature exceeded him in goodness.
His faults he did confess
With great sorrow for his transgression.
And in the Pharisee's prayer did express
Of full pride and adulation.
He prayed not, but praised himself there,
Standing upright with a pert face.
The mass beginneth with Confiteor,
And endeth with Deo gratias.
Even the reverse he did in this case.
There the mass endeth, he began proudly,
Making no confession of his trespass,
But said Deo gratias ago tibi,
In that he thanked God he was not to blame,
But in that he thanked Him not with very meekness.
Three species of sin he rehearsed by name
In which all sins be comprehended express.
By raveners is understand covetise;
In unrightful to say pride of him than;
In advoutry all lechery that men can rehearse.
And thus he excused himself, and slandered the publican.
I pay my tithes, he said also; C3,v.
And so he did, but not of the best.
In that cayme he was like to,
For he tithed alway of the worst.
Twice in the week, he said, he did fast;
From meat and drink he did, but not from deadly sin;
And that is the fast that pleaseth God best.
But thereat hypocrites will not begin.
Against God he sinned grievously,
In that he justified himself so,
And his even Christian slandering maliciously.
Tu testimonium perhiberis de teipso,
Et testimonium tuum non est verum—I say so.
Wherefore God did him divide
From the nine parts of angels the tenth, so
There Lucifer is falle[n] for his pride.
The Gospel said, who doth hie him shall be ho.
All they that praiseth themself do sin, be you sure.
And so, you curséd men, do your cure;
For by God's judgment,
If ye forsake not your sin, be you sure
You go to hell. Wherefore, repent!
Ambo. I cry God mercy for mine offence;
My wicked life I do defy.
Eug. Also I am sorry of my negligence;
Your doctrine I will follow full meekly.
St. John. This sample God sayeth us to,
That we should consider it wisely.
Who deemeth himself good is far therefro,
And he that thinketh himself sinfullest is blessed hardely.
Think now that your purpose was set cursedly, C4,r.
In sin thus to lead lives vain
Under colour of virtue, deeming yourself good.
You and all they that it doth sustain
Be worlde than the Pharisee; men's laws are wood;
Remember this for the reverence of Him that died on rood;
And to the laws of the Church abide every man,
And ye shall be partners of Christ's precious blood,
And blessed of God, as was the Publican.
Thus if ye will be stedfast and true
Jesus will then with His grace you renew.
To that Lord's bliss ye shall come all a
Qui vivit per infinita seculorum secula. Amen.
Finis.
Thus endeth the Interlude of St John the Evangelist.
Imprinted at London in Foster Lane by John Waley.