The voyage of the wandering knight. Deuised by Iohn Carthenie, a Frenchman: and translated out of French into English, by VVilliam Goodyear of South-hampton merchant. A vvorke vvorthie of reading, and dedicated to the Right worshipfull Sir Frauncis Drake, Knight

¶ HOVV TRVE REPENTAVNCE BE∣gins in vs, and how the Knights consci∣ence accused him: with the paines he had deserued. The fourth Chapter.

IT is true that Repentaunce (as it ought) cannot be done without speciall grace from GOD. For the heart of sinfull men can∣not chaunge their disordinate life, nor turne from their offences, nor prepare themselues to GOD, without the singular operati∣on of Gods grace.

The Doctors dispute dayly, whether true Repentaunce taketh hir beginning at loue or at feare.* 1.1 This question cannot be decided in fewe wordes: but to be short, I saye it may beginne at both. For true Repentaunce being a worke of God, he may beginne it as he lyst. But when it comes from loue, it is not ordinarie or common, but mer∣uailous. Looke vpon the conuersion of Saint Paule, of S. Mathew, and the Theefe.

But ordinarily ••o GOD beginnes Repentaunce in vs by feare, as in the third Booke of the Kings,* 1.2 when he commaunded Helias to come out of his caue to remaine in the Mount before the Lord, and a mightie strong winde passed by, that rent the high hills and ragged Rockes be∣fore the Lord, but the Lord was not in the winde. After that came an Earthquake, but the Lord was not in the Earthquake.

After that came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Af∣ter that came a softe sounde, wherein the Lord was.

In such sort God sendes to sinners, a winde of terrour, to breake the mightie Mountaine of pride, & the heart more harde then the rocke. After that comes the troubling of the soule, after that comes the conscience, grudging the hart of the sinner, and accusing him of his euill life: but yet the Lord is not there with his quickening Grace. Neuerthelesse these be forerunners to prepare the way of the Lord. For when the peruerse will of man is mortified by seruile feare, and led almost to hell, after comes the swéete sound of Gods grace, which reuiueth the soule, saieng: Lazarus come forth. This is the voice that giueth consolation, at the hearing whereof we may be bold to depart in peace, with assurance of remission of our sinnes. But it séemes that Repentance began first (in the Knight) at loue, and that miraculously: for he being in the filth of his sinne, sodainly by Gods proui∣dence confessed his folly, and loathing his lewde lyfe, he re∣quired helpe and succour of Gods grace, who presently assi∣sted him and brought him out of the sinke of sinne. But this manner of conuersion is not ordinarily vsed.

There are indéede certeine forerunners to the iustifieng of sinners, which prepare the way to Gods reuiuing or quic∣kening grace, and offereth vnto God a renewed spirit, and a pure and vpright heart: which manner of conuersion, godly people onely doe vse. And héereof meaneth the Knight to speake, purposing also to shew how it digresseth from Gods grace. When Repentaunce had thus apparailed me, with haire & sackcloth, I was set vpon a stoole, & then Gods grace appeared vnto me, with two women, & one man which was a preacher. Now one of the women held in hir right hand a sharp pricking yron rod, called the gnawing of y^e conscience) and in hir left hande she had a red booke, whereat I was af∣fraid. For as she beheld me, my thought she threatened me. The other woman was curteous milde and gentle, holding in hir right hand a booke of golde, couered with pearles, and she was called Remembrance.

Gods grace placed Conscience on my left hand, and Remembraunce on my right hand, the Preacher, Repen∣taunce, and her Damselles about me, and then comman∣ded Conscience to open the red booke, which when I percei∣ued and sawe the wordes written with bloud, declaring all my offences, with tormentes vnto them belonging, for my following of Folly, I was amazed and became speachlesse. Then Conscience with hir yron rod toucht me, prickt mee, yea, pearced my heart, and cried aloud vnto me, saieng: Be∣hold thou wretch, view this booke, & thou shalt sée how thou hast liued, euen against God, and contrarie to right and rea∣son. Thou hast bene a proud, arrogant, ambitious, spitefull at others prosperitie, a prolonger of time, wrathfull, a back∣biter, iniurious, traiterous, hatefull, couetous of gold, more then of God, gluttonous, wanton, shamelesse, a stewes haun∣ter, giuen to all vices, & hast transgressed al the commande∣ments of God, leading a loathsome life, denieng God, swea∣ring and blaspheming his name, an hainous offender, a false witnesse bearer, a lyar, a desirer of other mens goods, diso∣bedient to parents, cursing them and wishing their death. Furthermore, thou hast had neither faith nor hope in God, but rather in the force, riches, honour, and friendship of thy kinred, with their authoritie. I cannot recken vp the rest of thy sinnes, for they are vncountable. Uerie little care hast thou had of Christs merites, or of thy own soules helth, but alwaies yéelding to Voluptuousnesse, filthines, & iniquitie.

When Conscience had thus accused me, sorrow for sin fel bitterly a wéeping, and oftentimes stroke her brest. Then Conscience shewed me what torments I had deserued, for following voluptuous affections, and for louing them better then God. Thou oughtest sayd she, to burne in hell fire that neuer quencheth, & to be nipped with tormēts both of body and soule, for euer more. Thy laughinges shall be turned to wéeping, thy ioye to sorrowe, thy songs to cryes, yea, what paines can be named, but thou art like perpetually to suffer thē, without hope of redemptiō? For this is the due reward of worldly Felicitie, and following Folly. Bethinke thée

now, and tell me if it be in thy power to rid thée from these gréeuaunces? Hearing my conscience thus speak, my thought I sawe hell open to swallowe me vp, and with sorrowfull sadnesse I fell to the ground, before Gods grace, speachlesse: but she had compassion vpon me, and bad me rise, the which I did, though halfe in dispaire, and to recomfort me, shée opned the booke which Remembraunce held in her hand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Repen∣tance cō∣meth by loue and feare.
• * 1.2

  Act. 9. Luc. 23. 3. King. 19