Simon and Iude, Apostles

NO outward marke we haue to know,
Who thine, oh Christ, may be,
Untill a Christian Loue doth show,
Who appertaines to Thee:
For, knowledge may be reach'd vnto
And formall Iustice gain'd.
But, till each other loue we do,
Both Faith and Workes are faign'd.

Loue is the summe of those commands,
Which thou with thine dost leaue;
And for a marke on them it stands,
Which neuer can deceaue:
For when our knowledge Folly turnes,
When Showes no show retaine,
And Zeale it selfe to nothing burnes;
Then Loue shall still remaine.

By this were thy Apostles knit,
And ioyned so in one,
Their True-loue-knot could neuer yet
Be broken, nor vndone.
Oh let vs, LORD, receiued be
Into that sacred knot,
And One become with them and thee,
That sinne vndoe vs not.

Yea, lest when we thy grace possesse,
We fall againe away,
Or turne it into wantonnesse,
Assist thou vs, we pray:
And, that we may the better finde,
What heed there should be learn'd,
Let vs the fall of Angels minde,
As blessed Iude hath warn'd.