_Another Question put forth by Dr. Faustus to his Spirit, concerning his
Lord Lucifer, with the sorrow that Faustus fell afterwards into._
Dr. Faustus began again to reason with Mephistophiles, requiring him to
tell in what form and shape, and in what estimation his lord Lucifer
was, when he was in favour with God.
Whereupon his spirit required of him three days' respite, which Faustus
granted.
The three days being expired, Mephistophiles gave him this answer:
"Faustus, my lord Lucifer (so called now for that he was banished out of
the clear light of heaven) was at the first an angel of God, yea, he was
so of God ordained for shape, pomp, authority, worthiness, and dwelling,
that he far exceeded all the other creatures of God, yea, or gold and
precious stones; and so illuminated that he far surpassed the brightness
of the sun, and all other stars where God placed him on the cherubims;
he had a kingly office, and was always before God's seat, to the end he
might be the more perfect in all his being; but when he began to be
high-minded, proud, and so presumptuous, that he would usurp the seat of
God's Majesty, then was he banished out from amongst the heavenly
powers, separated from their abiding, into the manner of a fiery stone,
that no water is able to quench, but continually burneth until the end
of the world."
Dr. Faustus, when he had heard the words of his spirit, began to ponder
with himself, having divers and sundry opinions in his head, and very
pensively, saying nothing to his spirit, he went into his chamber and
laid him on his bed, recording the words of Mephistophiles, which so
pierced his heart that he fell into sighing and great lamentation,
crying out, "Alas! Ah, woe is me! What have I done? Even so shall it
come to pass with me: am I not also a creature of God's making, bearing
his own image and similitude, into whom he hath breathed the spirit of
life and immortality, unto whom he hath made all things living subject;
but woe is me! My haughty mind, proud aspiring stomach, and filthy
flesh, hath brought my soul into perpetual damnation, yea, pride hath
abused my understanding, insomuch that I have forgot my Maker, the
Spirit of God is departed from me; I have promised the devil my soul,
and therefore it is but a folly for me to hope for grace, but it must be
even with me as with Lucifer, thrown into perpetual burning fire: ah!
woe is me that ever I was born."
In this perplexity lay this miserable Dr. Faustus, having quite forgot
his faith in Christ, never falling to repentance truly, thereby to
attain the grace and holy Spirit of God again, the which would have been
able to have resisted the strong assaults of Satan; for although he had
made him a promise, yet he might have remembered, through true
repentance sinners may once come again into the favour of God, which
faith the faithful firmly hold, knowing they that kill the body are not
able to hurt the soul; but he was in all his opinions doubtful, without
faith or hope, and so he continued.