_How an old Man, the Neighbour of Faustus, sought to persuade him to
mend his Life, and to fall unto Repentance._
A good Christian, an honest and virtuous old man, a lover of the Holy
Scriptures, who was neighbour to Dr. Faustus, when he perceived that
many students had their recourse in and out unto Dr. Faustus, he
suspected his evil life, wherefore like a friend he invited Dr. Faustus
to supper unto his house, to which he agreed, and having entered their
banquet, the old man began with these words:
"My loving friend and neighbour, Dr. Faustus, I am to desire of you a
friendly and Christian request, beseeching you would vouchsafe not to be
angry with me, but friendly resolve me in my doubt, and take my poor
inviting in good part."
To whom Dr. Faustus answered, "My good neighbour, I pray you say your
mind."
Then began the old patron to say, "My good neighbour, you know in the
beginning how that you have defied God and all the host of heaven, and
given your soul to the devil, wherewith you have incurred God's high
displeasure, and are become from a Christian far worse than a heathen
person. Oh! consider what you have done, it is not only the pleasure of
the body, but the safety of the soul that you must have respect unto; of
which, if you be careless, then are you cast away, and shall remain in
the anger of the Almighty God. But yet it is time enough, O Faustus! if
you repent, and call upon the Lord for mercy, as we have example in the
Acts of the Apostles, the eighth chapter, of Simon in Samaria, who was
led out of the way, affirming that he was Simon homo sanctus. This man
notwithstanding in the end, was converted, after he had heard the sermon
of Philip, for he was baptized and saw his sin and repented. Likewise I
beseech you, good brother, Dr. Faustus, let my rude sermon be unto you a
conversion, and forget thy filthy life that thou hast led, repent, ask
mercy, and live: for Christ saith, 'Come unto me all ye that are weary
and heavy laden, and I will refresh you.' And in Ezekiel, 'I desire not
the death of a sinner, but rather that he will convert and live.' Let my
words, good brother Faustus, pierce into your adamant heart, and desire
God for his Son Christ his sake to forgive you. Wherefore have you lived
so long in your devilish practices, knowing that in the Old and New
Testament you are forbidden, and men should not suffer any such to live,
neither have any conversation with them, for it is an abomination unto
the Lord, and that such persons have no part in the kingdom of God."
All this while Dr. Faustus heard him very attentively, and replied:
"Father, your persuasions like me wondrous well, and I thank you with
all my heart for your good will and counsel, promising you, as far as I
may, to allow your discipline." Whereupon he took his leave, and being
come home, he laid him very pensive on his bed, bethinking himself of
the words of this old man, and in a manner began to repent that he had
given his soul to the devil, intending to deny all that he had promised
to Lucifer.
Continuing in these cogitations, suddenly his spirit appeared unto him,
clapping him upon the head, and wrung it as though he would have pulled
his head from his shoulders, saying unto him, "Thou knowest, Faustus,
that thou hast given thyself, body and soul, to my lord Lucifer, and
thou hast vowed thyself an enemy to God and to all men; and now thou
beginnest to hearken to an old doting fool, which persuadeth thee as it
were to good, when indeed it is too late, for thou art the devil's, and
he hath great power presently to fetch thee. Wherefore he hath sent me
unto thee to tell thee, that seeing thou hast sorrowed for that which
thou hast done, begin again, and write another writing with thine own
blood; if not, then will I tear thee in pieces."
Hereat Dr. Faustus was sore afraid, and said, "My Mephistophiles, I will
write again what thou wilt." Then presently he sat him down, and with
his own blood wrote as followeth: which writing was afterwards sent to a
dear friend of Faustus, being his kinsman.