re 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