I maruaile I haue not ſeene Dorio this Morning; nor receaued any Sutors from her.

If it pleaſe you, I will goe for her, to know when ſhe will come: or when you ſhall expect any Sutor.

I like him the better. But if I am not deceiued, it is Sophronius my old Friend, who hath been at Rome; for I heard that he is newly returned home.

My Sophronius, my ſweet heart, my deſired Friend, welcome: I reioyce that you are returned in ſafetie; I haue often wiſhed your companie ſince your departure.

So mee thinkes; for when you departed, you were beardleſſe, but now you haue got you a handſome Beard. You ſeeme to mee alſo, to haue changed your Countenance; for you had a merry & pleaſant Countenance when you departed; but now you ſeeme very graue and ſober.

Are we not alone, ſweet heart? Heere is none but Parmeno my Pander, who hath been acquainted with our dealinges.

From whence commeth this new ſhamefaſtneſſe? I haue a Cloſet, wherein I lay my Head-attire and my Iewels, which is ſo darke, that I can neither ſee you, nor you mee.

How comes it to paſſe (my Thais) that wee ſhould not be aſhamed to doe that thing in the ſight of Almighty God, and his holy Angels his witneſſes, which we durſt not for ſhame doe in the ſight of men?

Thais, I would intreat thee, if thou doeſt tender the ſaluation of thy ſoule, to heare mee a little what I will ſay vnto thee.

You confeſſe that we are in the ſight of God: and we all ſhould know, Pro. 15. 4. that Gods eyes are in euery place, beholding both good and euill. Heb. 4. All things are naked and bare to him, with whom we haue to doe. Wee cannot hide our ſelues from him, Pſalm. 139. nor go from him; for If we climbe vp to Heauen, hee is there: If wee goe downe to the Deepe, hee is there: If wee take the winges of the Morning, and fly to the vttermoſt partes of the Earth, yet thither ſhall his hand lead vs, and his right hand hold vs: If wee ſay the Darkneſſe ſhall hide vs, euen the Night ſhall be light about vs: Hee is round about our Bedde, and ſpieth out all our wayes.

My Thais, this is the ſcope of my ſpeach; that ſeeing our Witneſſe is in Heauen, and our Record with the Higheſt: ſeeing that God is the beholder of all our actions, and neither ſecrecie of place, nor darkneſſe can hide vs from his ſight, wee ſhould take heed what we doe; for he doth not onely ſee our actions, but he will alſo iudge them: for he can doe it, becauſe he is Almightie, and he will doe, for he is iuſt.

God indeed is mercifull; Pſal. 130. but to them that imbracing his mercie, doe feare him: and not to thoſe which abuſing his mercie,Rom. 2. doe offend him.

You are become very preciſe, and growne monſtrous holy: You ſhould goe vp into the Pulpit, and then I would heare thee.

I doe not wonder that you ſcoffe at my good Counſell, for it is vſuall with the World to deſpiſe holſome and godly Exhortations: but I would not refuſe to doe any good Office, that I might recall you from this ſhamefull and wretched life.

I wiſh (my Thais) that thou wouldeſt ſhake off this madneſſe of minde, and awake out of thy ſecuritie, and conſider of the matter in good earneſt.

I pray thee (Sophronius) keepe thy Sermon till another time: If I were ſicke, or aged, I would hearken vnto thee: but let vs now be merry, and enioy our pleaſure togeather.

O Thais! hearken now vnto my good Counſell: Delay in all things is dangerous; hee that is not fitte to day, may be leſſe fitte to morrow: now thou art in health and thy ſenſes are freſh, and thy vnderſtanding ſtrong, and thy memorie ripe; if thy body were ſicke, it may be ſickneſſe would weaken all theſe, and thy paine would make thee impatient. And whereas thou ſpeakeſt of old Age; Who hath any charter of his life? Wee are Tenaunts at will, God may thruſt vs out of our houſe and giue vs no warning: And this we haue ſeene often how ſodainely many haue been taken out of this life; as the Rich man that promiſed vnto himſelfe many dayes,Luke 12. and gloryed in his abundance, and this ſentence was giuen againſt him, Thou Foole, this night they ſhall fetch away thy ſoule. Therefore let vs not preſume to repent when wee are old, but euen to day let vs repent, becauſe we know not whether we ſhall liue till to morrow. Moreouer, thou wouldeſt haue me merry with thee, and enioy the pleaſures of ſinne: Let mee tell thee Thais, that I haue learned to be merry in the Lord; for other mirth is but momentanie and tranſitorie: and I haue learned to renounce the pleaſures of my Fleſh, and of the World, becauſe they are but for a little ſeaſon; but they doe procure eternall torment, as the example of the Rich Glutton doth teach.

My Sophronius, why doe you ſpeake ſo much Scripture vnto mee, you know that I, and others of my faſhion, little regard it, and care not how little we heare it; for it reproueth our life, and doth ouerthrow our gaine?

Indeed Thais, they which are euill, hate the Light, and loue Darkneſſe more then the Light, becauſe the Light diſcouereth their euill deeds. But if you and others of your faſhion; yea, if al ſinners would harken vnto the word of God and obey it, it would teach them to reforme their liues, and to eſcape out of the ſnares of the Diuell: heare therefore my good Thais, the word of God diligently, giue obedience vnto it; neither thinke it will hinder your profit: but aſſure your ſelfe, that will it procure greater and much better gaine then you can thinke.

My Thais, the gaine you thinke you reape by this euill kind of life, doth nouriſh your body; but the meanes is ſo euill, that it will deſtroy both body and ſoule, except you repent: But if you hearken to the Word of God, and reforme your life by it, it will teach you to ſaue both body and ſoule in the day of the Lord.

My Sophronius, this kind of life which I lead, is common; yea, many Ladyes, and gallant Women commit the ſame fault, though not ſo commonly knowen as our life is.

It may be moſt true, but the more is the pittie; yet ought not we to follow an e • ill example, no not in great ones: neither ſhould we follow a multitude to doe euill.

Why then I pray you, Sophronius, doe you ſet on mee as if I were alone thus ill diſpoſed? Haue you ſince your returne, inſtructed any other of this life? if not, you ſeeme to mee, to ſingle out mee from all other, as if I were the greateſt Sinner?

O Thais, Thais! I haue not talked with many ſince my arriuall; but I firſt come to thee, becauſe (with griefe of heart I ſpeake it) I haue liued diſſolutly with thee: and whereas I doe kindly admoniſh thee, thou haſt cauſe to take it in good part, and make good vſe of it. Neither doe I iudge thee to be the greateſt Sinner this way; but I know that you and I are great ſinners: therefore let vs both repent, and craue mercie of God in the mediation of Ieſus Chriſt.

If you wiſh mee well (my Sophronius,) as you pretend, and tender my ſaluation, as you ſay, ſpeake on, and I will heare you gladly?

Would you willingly doe that thing which is euill, to procure your owne deſtruction; and to miniſter matter of ioy vnto them?

You ſpeake indeed like a naturall Woman, for before we be regenerate,Luke. we all Hate our Enemies; we are ready to render euill for euill: we are eager to reuenge our ſelues; but our Lord Ieſus doth teach vs, not to reſiſt Euill; For Vengeance is mine, ſaith the Lord, I will repay. But to returne to that which you ſay, you would not doe, and yet you doe commonly.

Yes Thais, it is too euident, as hereafter I will ſhew you more at large. But tell mee againe (Thais,) Would you willingly doe that which ſhould offende your deare Friends?

I, but your euill and vncleane life, doth not onely greatly grieue, but much offende your Parents, your Breathren and Siſters, and your Kinsfolke: You haue renounced all naturall affections vnto them vnto whom by nature you are moſt neerely ioyned: they are aſhamed of thee, and thou art aſhamed to come in their ſight.

Though I haue changed ſome few Friendes, and haue renounced my affections to them; yet I haue by this kind of life which I liue, gotten me many more Friendes: whereof you are one, whom I eſteemed all wayes as my Brother.

Let theſe wordes paſſe, and conſider ſeriouſly of the matter as it is: You which thinke you haue ſo many Friendes, haue no Friend, (beleeue mee my Thais,) for they which come vnto thee, eſteeme thee not for a Friend, but vſe thee as a Harlot. Conſider then thou miſerable Woman, into what miſchiefe thou haſt throwne thy ſelfe. Chriſt Ieſus the Sonne of GOD, eſteemed thee ſo deare, that hee redeemed thee not with corruptible thinges, as Siluer and Gold, but with his precious Blood, that hee might make thee one of his members the Child of God, and an inheritour of the kingdome of Heauen; And thou makeſt thy ſelfe a publike Sinke, in which euey filthy, vncleane, and ſcabbie perſon, doth diſcharge their filthineſſe. And if as yet that infectious Leproſie which ſome call the Spaniſh Pip, ſome the French Pox, hath not touched thee, yet thou canſt not long eſcape it: which if it come to paſſe, who can be more miſerable then thou, though all other things elſe proſper well with thee. Weigh with thy ſelfe thy ſubſtaunce and thy report, what elſe ſhalt thou be then a liuing Carkaſſe. Thou wert grieued to obey thy Mother; now thou ſerueſt Dorio a ſhameleſſe Baud. It wearied thee to heare the Admonitions of thy Parents; but now often times thou art beaten of Whore-maiſters & frantique Fornicators. It was irkeſome to thee to doe any worke at home, whereby thou mighteſt get thy liuings but now, What watchings, what tumults, what intollerable indignities doſt thou indure of theſe filthy & vnchaſt perſons, to whom thou doſt proſtitute thy body?

Ile be ſworne, Sophronius, you ſeeme to be new changed indeed; for from a gallant youthfull Gentleman, you are transformed to a Puritane Preacher; but I thinke if Dorio were here, you would turne your tale, and change your coppie: ſhee would hold you • acke, and make you ſing a new Song; and I purpoſe preſently to fetch her.

You ſpeake Parmeno, as you are: you are a goodly Apple-ſquire, a Pander to ſuch Punks as Thais is: you draw by one line, & are an vpholder of bawdry? and though you fetch that old Baud, neither ſhe nor you, ſhall make me goe from that truth which I haue ſpoken; and if you make haſt, you ſhall finde me here to auerre that I haue vttered. And now Thais, conſider with me, that this flower of thy beautie which procureth thee Louers, it will ſhortly vaniſh away, for either ſickneſſe, or age, will deface it; what wilt thou then doe thou wretched woman? No Dung-hill will be abhorred more then thou. Then of a Harlot, thou muſt become a Baud, for ſuch are the proceedings of your wicked trade: which if it happen, what can be more vile? What can approch nearer vnto the Deuils malice?

I confeſſe, (my Sophronius,) that all theſe things which thou ſayeſt, are true; but tell me I pray you, from whence you haue learned this holines? You were wont to be a good fellow, and to delight in me: no man came more often to me, and more vntimely, then you. Come you not lately from Rome?

I wonder not a little, that you are ſo transformed, my Sophronius; for commonly they which goe to Rome, returne not better, but much worſe▪ how then are you growne ſo Godly?

I will tell thee, my Thais: Becauſe I went not with the ſame minde, nor after the ſame faſhion that many young Gentlemen and others doe; for they goe to Rome to ſee the Pope that Antichriſt, Papastupor Mundi. the wonder of the world, to ſee and learne Italian trickes, to learne to court and ſerue their Miſtris. And I will tell thee Thais, the occaſions to make a man a Libertine, are there abundantly offered; for a man may be there, what he will, ſo hee ſhew not any liking of godlyneſſe and honeſtie, and therefore no maruaile though they that haue been at Rome (for the moſt part) returne worſe then when they went.

O my Sophronius, you forget your ſelfe, Rome is accounted a holy place, the Pope is called Chriſts Ʋicar; they call others which conſent not vnto them, Heriques, and profeſſe them ſelues the onely Catholiques of the world.

I know, Thais, that Rome is accounted a holie place; but I thinke they that eſteeme it ſo, haue not bin there: for though it was ſome times an holy Citty where many of Gods Saintes did liue, yet now it is become an vnfaythfull Citty, a Cage of vncleane Birdes, a receptacle for perfidious and fugitiue perſonnes, and a ſinke of al euill. When I diligently obſerued how licentiouſly, how viciouſly, how inordinatly men liued there, committing moſt ſinnes without checke, I did admire how they could call that place Holy, where men did lead ſuch vncleane liues. The Pope is called Chriſts Ʋicar, and is borne vpon mens ſhoulders, and worſhipped as a God; but he doth not follow the ſteppes of Chriſt herein, but doth cleane contrary to the preceptes of Chriſt, and therefore he may rather be called Antichriſt; And whereas the Romaniſts call others Heretiques who diſſent from them, I can aſſure thee Thais, that they hold and maintaine foule and ſhamefull Hereſies, as I can proue by the holy word of God. And whereas they call themſelues Catholiques, & appropriat that name vnto themſelues, they doe but as ſome that called themſelues Iewes, and were not Iewes, as S. Iohn doth teach, Reuel. 3. 9. for they hold many things contrary to the holy Catholique Fayth.

If this be true (my Sophronius) which you ſay, I doe the more admire that you ſhould returne ſo holy from ſo vnholy a place; We ſee that men generally are ſo beſotted and inchaunted with the pleaſures of this life, that they affect thoſe places where they may moſt inioy them; and deſire rather to abide there where they may haue libertie to inioy the pleaſures, of the fleſh, then where men are warned to auoyde theſe Syrenes and haue the Iudgements of God denounced againſt them for their ſinnes. I ſpeake this from my owne experience. Tell me therefore (my Sophronius,) by what meanes you are ſo transformed?

I will tell thee (my Thais) plainely, wiſhing that it may be as profitable to thee, as it hath bin gainefull to mee. I chaunced (by the goodnes and grace of God) to fall into the companie of a graue Father, who was a Protiſtant Miniſter, who had bin at Rome to ſeeke his Sonne, who ſecretly had ſlipt from him to ſee the Countrie, and to learne faſhions; but hearing that he was returned to Ʋenice, he came backe againe, & as we trauailed togeather, he inquired of me of what Countrie I was? I told him an Engliſh man: he demaunded of me the cauſe of my comming into thoſe Countries: I anſwered him, to ſee Faſhions, and to vnderſtand the ſtate of the Romiſh religion which I heard commended in mine owne Countrie; and alſo to obſerue the manners and faſhions of the Catholiques which I had heard exceedingly prayſed of our Engliſh Catholiques, in my owne Countrie. And when he had heard me to the end, he ſpake on this manner vnto me. My Son, ſaith he (for ſo he called me, ſpeaking in Latine) Beware and take heed of thoſe Popiſh Catholiques, which are the Sinagogue of Sathan, and thanke God that you are come out of Rome, yea out of Babilon, who exalteth her ſelfe as a Queene, and yet is that Strumpet ſpoken of in the Reuelation of S. Iohn. And beleeue mee, Poperie is a bundle of Iniquitie: For, haue you not ſeene how Curtizans are ſuffered & maintained vnder the Popes noſe: yea, many of the Popes haue had their Paramours. The Stewes and Brothell houſes are euery where alowed. They boaſt of the Scriptures, and yet they falſifie them, & keepe them from the people, that they may keepe them in blindneſſe. They iuſtifie themſelus, and yet are moſt wicked. Their Clergie liue in all manner of pleaſures of the fleſh. They hold it that a Prieſt liuing in Adulterie & Fornication, doth not ſinne ſo much, as when he taketh a Wife. The Ieſuites (which is the laſt Order amongſt them, and the worſt) doe hold it meritorious to kill the King of the Countrie, if he be not of their Religion: And therefore who ſoeuer holdeth the grounds of Poperie, is in a moſt dangerous eſtate. But my Sonne, ſearch the Scriptures, as our Sauiour Chriſt exhorteth, and they ſhall reueale vnto you the miſteries of our Saluation, and diſcouer all their iuglings & impieties. I gaue him great thanks, and haue followed his counſell: Since which time, I haue been ſtudious in the Scriptures, and euery day I perceiue the groſſe errours of the Papiſtes, their counterfait Holineſſe, their deepe Hipocriſie, and their great Iniquitie. Now therefore, my Thais, if you tender your owne ſaluation, deteſt Poperie, and forſake this ill kind of life that you haue led: yet there is hope, if you earneſtly repent, God will receaue you; for hee would not the death of Sinner, but rather that he ſhould repent. To day therefore, whiles God doth admoniſh you, heare his voyce, and harden not your hearts againſt God; ſo ſhall you eſcape eternall condemnation.

If this kind of life (my Sophronius) be ſo euill, if it be ſo dangerous, and if ſo great a puniſhment doth belong vnto it, I maruaile that it is ſo common; and I marnaile why ſome haue affirmed, that Fornication is but a tricke of Youth: and that it is no fault for a Young man to commit Fornication?

I told you, that the vniuerſalitie of a ſinne, doth not make it to be no ſinne, nor excuſe a ſinne; for we ought not to follow a multitude to doe euill. And whereas ſome ſay, that it is but a tricke of Youth, to commit Fornication, & that it is no fault; theſe are the words of Heathen men, which had not the light of Gods word: ſuch euill Words corrupt good Manners. But the Word of God doth tell vs,Heb. 13. 4. • Cor. 6. that Fornicators and Adulterers God will iudge, and puniſh. Neither ſhall Fornicators and Adulterers, enter into the kingdome of Heauen.

This is a heauie ſentence, if it ſhould be executed; and indeed my Heart trembleth to heare it. If the ſtate of this life which I haue ledde, be ſo odious to God, and lyable to ſo great puniſhment, I will, by Gods grace, forſake it. But alaſſe (Sophronius) how ſhall I liue? How ſhall I maintaine my ſelfe?

I am glad to heare that you feare the Iudgements of God, threatned to ſinners in his Word. No doubt Gods ſpirit will reſt vpon them that tremble at his Word; and I hope that God will make me an inſtrument to conuert you. And whereas you demaund how you ſhould liue? how you ſhould maintaine your ſelfe? I will tell you what I would aduiſe you: You ſhall ſecretly and ſodainly gather vp all your Apparell, & your Stuffe, and I will helpe you to conuey it to my Houſe: and I would haue you, to ſerue ſome Lady or Gentlewoman, and I my ſelfe will helpe to preferre you: yea, and if I can preferre you to a good Match, I will giue a reaſonable Portion to further it: and I will labour to reconcile you to your Parents, and to your Breathren and Kinſfolke.

Bleſſed be God (my Sophronius) that brought you hither this day, to giue mee this good Counſell: and I thanke God that I haue ſuch a Friend, that is ſo carefull for my good and ſaluation: And that you may know how you haue preuayled with mee, I ſubmit my ſelfe wholy to your diſpoſition, and am content to be ordered by you in all things. But ſee, Dorio is at hand, and P.

I am at hand indeed, and I haue this good while heard your communication; and your concluſion I vtterly miſlike, and altogether diſtaſte. Will you Thais, commit your ſelfe to Sophronius to be ordered? Will you giue ouer this pleaſant and gainefull kind of life? No, no, (my Thais) let not him deceiue you, to draw you vnto Miſerie and Penurie. What can you more deſire, then you haue? You haue the Pleaſures of this life, you haue coſtly Garments, daintie Fare, Money at will, and the companie of luſtie Gallants at commaund; and will you leaue this kind of life, to waite and attend vpon others, who are now attended vpon? Will you be at the commaund of others, who may your ſelfe commaund? To doe ſo, were extreame follie. And you Sophronius, who ſeeme to be ſo altred from the man you were, when you went from vs; I doubt not, but you will be as kind to Thais: as you haue bin: for if you haue not her to vſe at your command, you will haue your haunt ſome where els: therefore play the good fellow, do as you haue done, and let it not be ſayd, that you are turned Puritane.

Auoyd thou old Baud, I defie thee and thy counſell: I vtterly deteſt, & I do from my heart hate my former life, and doe flie vnto the mercie of God, in Ieſus Chriſt; And I tell thee Dorio, thou art an vncleane woman, and an Inſtrument of the Deuill to corrupt and deſtroy young perſons, thy heart is full of Gall and bitterneſſe: Repent therefore, if ſo be the Lord will haue mercie vpon thee; Or if thou wilt not, God ſhall puniſh thee in the end, as he hath done many, for the ſame fault.

Marie muffe Sophronius▪ are you become a Preacher? In ſooth ſir your yeeres are to young to teach me. I meane not to forſake this kinde of life yet? I haue vſed it too long to leaue it, I will endeauour to bring young Gentlemen to Thais, to enioy their pleaſure: Should not young men reioyce in their youth, & cheere their hearts in the dayes of their youth, and walke in the wayes of their heart and in the ſight of their eyes?

I confeſſe indeed, that I am young, yet my counſell ought not to be refuſed in reſpect of my youth, but rather it checketh your old age, continuing ſtill in vncleanneſſe. And whereas you ſay, you will not leaue that filthy courſe of life yet, take heed that you harden not your heart againſt God, and ſo heape vp wrath againſt the day of wrath. And whereas you ſay, you haue vſed it too long to leaue it herein, you ſhew how dangerous a thing it is to accuſtome ones ſelfe to any euill; It is an eaſie thing to fall into any ſinne, but it is hard to get out of it. And whereas you ſay, you will be an Inſtrument to bring others to follie and to impietie, know this, that thou ſhalt the more ſeueerely be puniſhed, for aſmuch as thou doeſt not onely euill of thy ſelfe, but art a Soliciter and abettor of others in ſin. Neither ought yong men liue laciuiouſly and diſſolutely; for if they doe, God will call them to iudgement for it.

I tell thee Sophronius, thou art become a preciſe Foole; or rather I thinke thou doeſt but dally with mee and Thais, that we may know and vnderſtand thy ſharpe Witte. But come Sophronius, be vnto vs as thou haſt been: for thou ſhalt not finde vs changlings.

Speake (Dorio) for thy ſelfe; for I tell thee plainely without any equiuocation, that Sophronius hath ſo preuayled with me, that I diſclay me thee, and vtterly deteſt that filthie and vncleane life whereunto thou haſt brought mee: for had not GOD in mercie made Sophronius an inſtrument to reclayme mee, I had good cauſe to curſe thee; for thou dideſt draw mee to this abhominable life. Thou art ſhee that did procure mee to forſake my Parents, and their good counſaile, to practiſe this odious and wicked courſe: therefore I doe now defie thee, and all ſuch leawde Women as you, which are the deſtruction of many young Women about this Cittie, bringing them into euill company, and giuing them leawd counſell.

Why how now Huſwife, are you become ſo Holy? It doth not agree with your profeſsion; Haue not you promiſed to be ordered and ruled by meet Doe not you call mee Mother, and confeſſe your ſelfe to bee my Daughter? I thinke you dare not forſake mee on this faſhion; for if you doe, I will diſplay your life, and make you to be poynted at in the ſtreetes.

You may tearme mee at your pleaſure, but your mockes and ſcornes ſhall not much offende mee: and though I promiſed to be ordered by you, I now ſee my follie therein, and am ſorrie for it; and I know that euill Promiſes are better broken then kept. And though I called thee Mother, I ſee now (to my griefe) that thou wert a wicked Mother to mee. And though you dare mee, and feare mee with diſcouering my follie; I had rather be hated of thee & the World, & poynted at, then haue the diſpleaſure of Almightie God; but if he loue me, (as I know he will) if I loue him, and hate all iniquitie, I little care for the hatred of the World: For I now ſee that they which are Gods friendes, ſhall be hated of the World. And indeed, if you had your deſert, you deſerue to be poynted at, and to be ſeueerely puniſhed for intiſing of young Maydes vnto follie: and I will make you knowne to others, that they may take heed of you, and others of your faſhion.

Mary you are a goodly Goſsip indeed, you will be ſhortly, one of the Holy Siſters; I ſhall haue you ſhortly, one of the Family of Loue: I will obſerue you, and marke your faſhions; and I ſweare by my Honeſtie, if Sophronius were not heere, I would ſo beat thee, that thou ſhouldeſt not lift thine hands to thy head: But I ſhall find a time to be reuenged of thee for thy malipartneſſe.

It is the manner of ſuch as you are, to frumpe and mocke at ſuch as forſake your euill life, and begin to ſerue God, and to make a conſcience of their wayes: But you ſhall ſmart for it one day, if you doe not repent. And whereas you ſay, you will obſerue Thais, and marke her life; I would wiſh thee to obſerue thy ſelfe, and ſeriouſly conſider what an abhominable and hatefull life thou doeſt lead. And whereas thou ſweareſt by thy Honeſtie, thou ſweareſt by that thou haſt not; for ſuch as thou art, are at defiance with Honeſtie, and wholly delight in diſhoneſt and ſhamefull life. And whereas thou ſayeſt that thou wouldeſt beate her if I were abſent, and doeſt threaten to be reuenged of her, I tell thee, thou ſhameleſſe old Baud, that if thou doeſt touch her, or doeſt any way wrong her, I will cauſe thee and thy companions to be puniſhed.

Nay then I defie thee, thou proud Puritane, and if Parmeneo wil helpe me, I will ſcratch out thy eyes, for abuſing me in this manner, but I hope, I ſhall be reuenged of thee, ere it be long. But Parmeneo come, let vs leaue them: let vs be gon, they are no companie for vs; they are a couple of preciſe Fooles, and ſo they will proue.

I perceiue, that thou haſt a Harlots face, and haſt hardned thy heart that thou wilt not repent; but know thou, thou euill woman, that God ſhall puniſh thee, and all ſuch perſons: Yee ſhall be excluded out of heauen, and caſt downe into Hell: this ſhalbe the portion 〈◊〉 Adulterers, Fornicators, Drunkards, and all vncleane •• rſons, that will not repent. Oh that thou, & ſuch as thou it, would conſider this, & be wiſe, and lay hold on grace whiles the day of grace laſteth; for when the day of iudgment commeth,Pro. 1. 28. it wilbe too late to call for mercie: for as you ſtop your eares,Zacha. 7. 7. and will not heare God ſpeake vnto you now, ſo he will not heare you then, but will ſay depart from me, you workers of iniquitie, I know you not.

I tell thee, thou young Puritane, that thou prateſt in vaine to mee, I am no fit hearer for you; I will when I thinke good, alter my trade of life, and not be at your diſpoſition, nor be directed by the beſt Preacher of the Land: Therefore take your Puritane Punke with you, you haue made her a holy Siſter: I, and Permeneo, will goe ſeeke ſome other young Miſtris; which I doubt not, will be more faythfull then your Huſwife hath been, who hath broken her honeſt word: and ſo a diew.

Farewell thou old Baud, happie are they that are fartheſt off from ſuch rotten members, and from ſuch noiſome and infectuous plagues, which are able to deſtroy many. And now, my Thais, conſider with me how ſinners hardned in ſin, refuſe to heare good counſell, and ſtopp their eares like the deafe Adder, refuſing to heare the voyce of the Charmer, charme he neuer ſo wiſely. Shee will (ſhee ſayes,) reforme her life at her pleaſure; as if ſhee could repent when ſhe liſted; whereas it is the gift of God. Her purpoſe is (as ſhe ſaith) to corrupt ſome other, as ſhe hath done you: But God (I truſt) will croſſe her in her euill purpoſe, and confound her wicked enterpriſe.

Amen (my Sophronius:) And God Almightie graunt vs his grace to continue in that good courſe whereinto wee are entred, and guide vs with his holy Spirit, that the reſt of our life may be wholly conſecrated vnto him▪ that wee glorifying him in this life, m •• be glorified of him in the life to come, through Ieſ •• Chriſt our Lord.

Amen, Amen.