Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets, with their poeticall comparisons Descriptions of bewties, personages, castles, pallaces, mountaines, groues, seas, springs, riuers, &c. Whereunto are annexed other various discourses, both pleasaunt and profitable.

Faith.

— Fidelia Like sunny beames threw forth her christall face, That could haue mazde the r••r'st beholders sight, And roūd about her head did shine like heauens light She was araied all in Lilly white, And in her right hand bare a Cup of Gold, With wine and water filld vp to the height. In which a serpent did himselfe infold, That horror made to all that did behold, But she nowhit did change her constant minde. And in her other hand, she full did hold, A booke that was both signd and seald with bloud. Ed. Spencer.

Faith sits triumphant on a coach of gold, Of Tuballs worke, where costly Saphires shine, Rich Diamonds, and many Rubies fine, And if ought else, the worke more costly hold, This glorious chariots rowling wheeles are like The holy wheeles the great Ezechiel sawe, For owne selfe spirit, selfe winde and will doth drawe, Their restesse courses equall both alike, The bird that led the Romaine standerds out The bird that fixed can oppose his eies, Against the greatest light in all the skies, High through the ayre drawes this rich Coach about. Faith flaunts it not in siluer nor in gold. Nor precious scarlet of the Tyrian die:

Nor paints her face to hide deformitie, But as she is, she doth her selfe vnfolde, Her body that all bodies doth disgrace, Like Iunoes bird is full of watching eies, Whose holy glaunces pierce the loftie skies, Pierce the hie heauens, and see God face to face. She hath great store of flowing tongues to praise The Lord of hoastes: she hath most mightie wings, (Passing the swiftnes of all mortall things) That in a moment vp to heauen her raise, Her glorious head is compast with a crowne Nor made of Oliue, pine, or Lawrell bowe, Nor Parsly wreath which Graecians did allowe. Th' olympian gaimes for signalls of renowne, But of fresh Roses pluckt from honours tree, That neuer shrinke for winters chilling frost, Nor wither not when Titan hotely tostes, But by the Lord for euer watered bee. I. Syl. Transl.

Faith friendly porter of heauens Christall hold, Conduct vs straight before the throne of gold: O•• Gods great grace, there prostrate on her knee, Doth praier speake in name of all the three. I. S. Transl.

What was the world before the world? or God ere he was God Why this he did, or doth not that, this biddē or forbod: I dare not thinke, or arrogate such misteries diuine, Faith with her wits significant suffice these wits of mine: To loue God and our neighbours as our selfe is all in fine. W. Warner.

Drawe thy forces all vnto thy hart, The strongest fortresse of this earthly part: And on these three, let thy assurance lie, On faith, hope, and humilitie. M. Drayton.

Faith is thy Fort, thy shield, thy stronger aide, Neuer controll'd, nere yeelded, ne dismaide: Which doth dilate, vnfold, foretell, expresseth, Which giues rewards, inuesteth and possesseth. Idem.

Faith hath not onely power on things terrene Both hie, and lowe, but oftentimes doth force Gods iustice too, and sometimes seemes perforce, Gods purposes to change and alter cleane. I. Syl.

— The hardest things faith makes most possible. Idem.

— Euen the faithfull flocks are like the ground, That for good fruite, with weedes will still abound: If that the share and coulter idle lie, That riues the share, and rootes the brambles bie. Th. Hudson. Transl.

Adde faith vnto your force, and be not faint. Ed. Spencer.

Onely faith doth iustifie say we, of Gods free grace, By Christ, nor faith is idle, but doth charitie embrace. W. Warner.