Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

A Dialog betweene Christ and Sinner

XII. William Hunnis

AWAKE from sleepe, and watch awhile,

Prepare yourselues to praie;

For I mine angell will send foorth

To sound the iudgement daie;

That mine elect and chosen sort

Might find my saieng true,

How that the time I shorten will

For them, and not for you.

Awake, I saie, awake, awake.

And yet, O Lord, the little whelps

Would like the crums that fall:

Thy chosen sort are verie few,

But manie doost thou call.

I call to you that will not heare,

I stretch mine armes at large,

For to imbrace such as doo come,

And all your sinnes discharge.

Wherefore if you refuse to come

I will you then forsake,

And to my feast will strangers call,

And them my children make.

Awake, therefore, and rise from sleepe;

Awake, I saie, awake.

Not so, good Lord, thy mercie far

Aboue our sinnes abound.

And yet I will a iusticer

In iustice mine be found.

Thy promise is to pardon sinne,

And therein art thou iust.

Your sinnes repent, and praie therefore;

In vaine is else your trust.

O Lord, thy grace must this performe,

Or else it cannot be.

My grace you haue, the same applie,

And blessed shall you be.

Through this sweet grace thy mercie, Lord,

We humblie doo require.

By mercie mine I you forgiue,

And grant this your desire.