The Devils Banket Described, Sermon 2 – Title page 3

The Devils Banket Described · Sermon 2 – Title page 3

p. 41THE Second Seruice of the Deuils Banket. The second Sermon.

PROVERB. 9.17▪

Stollen waters are sweet, and Bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

WEE hauehave already serued in the first course at the Deuils Banket; and feasted your eares with those Waters, from which God keepe your soules fasting. Some things are proposed to our practise, some things are exposed to our contempt and dislike. The more accurately the Scriptures describe sinnes, the more absolutely they forbid them: where wickednesse is the subiect, all p. 42speech is declamation. As no spectator at those horrid Tragedies, where Oedipus is beheld the Incestuous Husband of his owne Mother,Se…. or Thyestes, drunke with the blood of his owne Children, or at any of the bleeding Bankets of the Medea's, can receiue those horrours a… the Windores of his senses, without terrour to his bowels, and trembling to his bones: so when you heare the relation of the Deuils cheare, all the flattering, petulant, insidious, nature-tickling dishes of delight: the rarities of Impietie, the surfets of the World, Horse-leaches to the blood, Witches to the affections, Deuils to the Consciences of men; thinke that they are related, that they may be reiected: to bestow vponupon the Deuils Cates his owne names: the glory of Pride, the satietie of Epicurisme, the gallantnesse of Ebrietie, the credite of Murder, the greatnesse of Scorne, the gracefulnesse of Swearing, the brauerie of (the stigmaticke) Fashion, the securitie of Vsurie, the singularitie of Opinion, the content of Superstition; nunciantur, vt renuncientur: thinke not, they are prescribed for you, when they are described to you. Monstrantur vt monstra: they are set foorth as monsters, that they might be loathed: they are aduanced as Traytours heads, in terrorem futuri proditoris, to the terrour of him that should be tempted to future Treason.

Gods intent in declaring this Banket of Sinne, is to make you loathe it; and that which is written, is for our instruction, 1 Cor. 10.11.1 Cor 10:11to de…erre, not to commend, as some of the Heathen had a custome in their solemne Feasts, to make a bondslaue drunke, and then set him forth as a rediculou… obiect to their children. This Banket then, per…ibetur vna & prohibetur; is at once declared and declaimed, spoken of and forbidden: lest through ignorance you should like and eate it, you are more p. 43fully made acquainted with the vilenesse of it. Hence our royall Preacher drawes the Curtaine of the World, and shewes you all the delicates of her Table; not to whet your appetites to feed on them, but to coole your courage, disharten your opinions, alienate your affections; giuing you a true censure of their worthinesse; all is vanitie, and vexation of soule. Eccles. 1.14.Eccl 1:14They are detected, that …hey might be detested. Therefore if any of Gracchus brood, shall like a Catilmary disposition the better, because Tully hath indicted, interdicted, condemned it: if any sonne of Beliall, shall more affectedly deuoure some morsell of damnation at this Feast, because the Preacher hath execrated it; and deriue at once notice and incouragement from our terrifying censures: testimonium sibi ferat condemnationis: let him beare in himselfe the euidence of his owne condemnation. They are wretched men, (qui minimè declinant, quod boni maxime declamant) that most impetuously pursue, what all good men disswade: running with Ahimaaz the more eagerly, because their friend Ioab forbids them.2 Sam. 18.22.2 Sam 18:22 So blasphemously spake the sacrilegious spoilers of Proserpines Temple in Locris, whose ring-leader was Dionisius: Videtis ne amici, quàm bona nauigatio ab ipsis Dijs sacrilegis tribuatur? Valer▪ max. lib. 1. cap. 2.sailing home, and now arriuing at the Hauen safe; see you not my friends, saith Dionisius, how faire and fortunate a Nauigation, the Gods vouchsafe to Sacriledge? as if they therefore robbed the CHVRC…, because they were by the Oracle expressely inhibited: so (gens humana ruit in vetitum nefas) mans nature praecipitates it selfe into forbidden wickednesse.Hor. This is an horrid sinne; peccatum primae impressionis, & sine nomine adaequato: a wickednesse of that nature, that there is no name significant enough to expresse it.

p. 44The manners of the Heathen might iustifie, and exemplarily make good that verse:

Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimus que negata.

Wee hunt for things vnlawfull with swift feet,

As if forbidden ioyes were onelyonly sweet.

But such a report among Christians is so strange, that (fictum, non factum esse videatur) it would seeme rather a fable then a fact, a tale then a deed. Publish it …ot in Gath, 2 Sam. 1.20.2 Sam 1:20nor tell it in the streets of Askelon, that any Israelite should the more desperately cleaue to Baal, because Elias hath cursed it. There are none such; neither is there Raine in the Clouds: Indeed Charitie would not beleeue it: for it is euen the order of Nature, that (tarda sole… magnis rebus adesse fides) slow faith is giuen to great reports: but alas, wee are forced to see, (what wee would not beleeue) such refractary Recusants to all Christianitie, l…uing and speaking, foreign, according to their owne lusts, that would not be so ill, if they had not beene taught to be better:Marl. in 2 P…t. 3 quibus res diuinae lusus sunt, ijs & voluptas pro vita, & libido pro ratione est. They that play with Diuinitie, and make Rel…gion a mocke, giude their Life by Pleasure, and their Reason by Lust. Time was, the Kingdome of Heauen suffered violence, Matth. 11.12.Matt 11:12and men tooke it by strong hand, now it offers violence, and men by strong hand repell it: before it was so precious, that eueryevery man preassed (and crowded) into it, Luke 16▪ 16.Luke 16:16now it press…th vponupon vsus, and wee are glad to be rid of it, (as Couetousnesse of pouertie at his dore.) And as the fountaines would not be so colde, if the Sunne had not heated the ayre, and forced the contrarie qualitie into such abstruse corners; many would hauehave beene lesse outragious p. 45in their filthinesse, is the Gospell of Grace, had not so vniuersally spread his beames: Their whole life is a continuall preuarication; and it is the cordiall Physicke to fat their spleenes, that they can be crosse to God.

But, lex in sermone tenenda; I speake to Christians, of whom we cannot but hope better things: if there be any here that hath sold his faith for his pleasure, as Adam did his life for an Apple, or Esau his birth-right for a messe of Pottage, and will venture himselfe a guest at the Deuils Bank…t, maugre all devitation; let him stay and heare the Reckoning,Iustice giuegive… cui que suum. Deo religionem, sibi munditiam, parentibus honore…, familiaribus prouidentiam, filijs cor.. rectionem, …ratribus amorem. Dominis subiectionem, subiectis benig…itatem, aequitatem omnibus. Ardens. for there is a Shot to be payed, which cannot be auoided: as Circe's Cup turnes men into beasts, so it brings them to a beastly end, it fats them against the slaughter-day of Iudgement. We leaue then the prescription of the waters, and come to the description of their natures: Stollen. It is a word of Theft; and implies, besides the action of Stealth, some persons actiue and passiue in this businesse; some that doe wrong and steale, some that suffer wrong, and are robbed. Robberi… is a sinne, literally forbidden onelyonly in one Commandement, but by inference, in all: What sinne is committed, and some person is not robbed? Doth not Id…latrie rob God of his worship? Blasphemie of his honour? Saboth-impietie of his reserued time? Doth not Irr…ueren…e rob our betters? Murder rob man of his life? Theft of his goods? False t…stimonie of his good name or right? Doth not the Harlot here, knit the eight precept to the seuenth, and call (adulterium, furtum?) aaPeccare, est quasi p…ccucare, to play the beast: or …ather neerer to the Scripture phrase, peccare, est quasi pellicare, to be an Harlot, or an Harlo…-hunter: to com…it spirituall adulterrie.The pleasures of a forbidden bed, Stollen waters? bbPro. 17.18.19Prov 17:18Prov 17:19Let vsus solace our selues with loues▪ for the good man is not at home, &c.

Since then, all sinnes are waters of stealth, it is an ineuitable consequent, that eueryevery sinne robs some: let vsus examine, whom. The parties robbed are. 1. God. p. 462. Man. 3. Our selues: and there be diuers sinnes rob either of these. Of eueryevery circumstance a little, according to the common liking; for some had rather h are many points, then learne one: they would hauehave eueryevery word a sentence, and eueryevery sentence a Sermon; as hee that wrot… the Pater-noster in the compasse of a Penie. OnelyOnly I entreate you to obserue; that this is a theeuish Banket, where is nothing but stollen waters: all the Cates be robberies: the guests cannot drinke a drop, but there is iniurie done. Accordingly, I will ioyntly proceede. 1. To describe the Waters of Sinne at this Feast. 2. And withall, to proue them stollen waters, such as rob either our God, our Brethren, or our selues. I need not cleare the Feast from an opinion of coursenesse, because the prime Seruice goes vnderunder the name of waters: this alone doth inforce the delicacie: Neither is all water, for the Bread of Secrecie is one halfe of the Banket. Let vsus not be too nice in the letter and shadow: the substance is; The Deuill inuites and tempteth men to feede on vanitie, to feast on Sinnes: those sinnes I hauehave laboured to display, so farre as the Metaphor would giuegive me leaue: onelyonly, let your affections follow me: that as I feare not to make the Iniquities hatefull to your vnderstandings, so I may hope, they will be loathed of your hearts, eschewed of your liues: in confidence whereof I proceede. The first course of these wae…rs, are such sinnes, as more immediatly rob God: And here, as it is fit, Atheisme leades in the rest: a principall Viall of these stollen waters.

1. Atheisme is the highest Theft against God; because it would steale from him not (sua, …ed se,) his goods, but himselfe: proceeding further (then, Deus haec non curat, to, Deu… non est.) Then to say, aaPsal. 10.11.13.Ps 10:11Ps 10:13God will not regard it; but, bbPsal. 14.1.Ps 14:1there is no God to regard it. These offer not onelyonly a wicked hand to their owne conscience, p. 47to scrape out the (deepe-ingrauen and) indeleble characters of the Diuinitie there; but a sacrilegious hand to heauen, as if they would empty it of a Deitie, and pull Iehouah out of his Throne, and make him a nonens. All, with them, is begun and done, either by the necessitiy of Fate, or contingencie of Fortune. Te facim… Fortuna Deam. If any strange vice be committed, the Planets shall be charged with it. Mercurie told the lye, Mars did the murder, Venus committed the whoredome. Thus by looking to the inferiour causes, (producing necessarie effects) they rob God, who is (prima causa creans causas) the causing cause, and the originall mouer of all things. These are worse then the Deuill: for, if at first he doubts and tempts Christ, yet seeing, feeling his power and miracles, he confesseth: onelyonly impudent ccMatth. 26.63Matt 26:63Caiaphas, saw and knew, yet tempts, Thus often, the Instrument excels the Agent; and there be Machiauels, Polititians, Atheists, hauehave trickes beyond the Deuill. The Deuill ddIam. 2.19.Jas 2:19beleeues and trembles, these hauehave neither faith nor feare. The Deuill quakes at the day of Iudgement eeMatth. 8.29.Matt 8:29torment vsus not before the time, these deride it: ff2 Pet. 3.4.2 Pet 3:4Where is the promise of his comming? Strange! euen the Father of Sinnes comes short of his Children; and that there should be Atheists on Earth, when there is none in Hell.

These Monsters are in the Wildernesse! No, they borough in Sion: if seldome such, as say, there is no God, yet frequent, that call Religion a fable; or at least, testifie no lesse of it in their liues: for, Quorum est commune Symbolum, facillimus est transitus: How many make that their Gospell, which they can spell into their purses; and embrace no other Creed, then their Lord and Masters humour? that turne articles of pietie to particles of Pollicie: and sophisticate olde singlenesse into new singularitie? If a Seminaries argument, shall be p. 48more gold-weightie then the best Sermon of ours, they are for Rome the next tide: any Religion, that can enrich their Coffers, shall hauehave their applauses: What differ these from Atheists?Le… 10. or that Pope, who hearing Cardinall Bembus speake of the Gospell, burst forth into this blasphemie:Baleus. Quantum nob…s ac nostro coetui profuerit ea de Christo fabula, …atis est omnibus seculis notae. How gainefull the fiction or tale of Christ hath beene to vsus, and our Crew, the whole World may know and witnesse. All Religion is with them a Fable, or at best, fallible. They would fit Religion to their owne humors,Met. lib. 7. as Procustes dealt with his Ghests: for all that came he had but one bed: if they were shorter then his bed, …ee racked them out, to make them long enough: if longer, hee would cut them shorter, till they were fit. These are cruell theeues, that would rob God of himselfe.

2 The second Viall is Heresie: a dangerous water, because it soone tickles the braine, and makes the minde drunke. This Sinne robbes God of his Truth: There are many of these Theeues, though contrary among themselues; whose opinions are as crosse one to another, as Sampsons Foxes, but their tailes meet, to scatter the Fire of dissention in the Church: no Lawyers wrangle more in publike; nor more louingly feast one another in priuate, with the gaines of their dissimulation: How bitterly the Brownists on the right hand, the Papists on the left, raile at each other; how friendly agree they, like Herod and Pilate, to afflict Christ? how in effect doe they sing both in one tune, to build vp D…otion with Ignorance, to wrangle with the Prince for his Supremacie?

In elder times, you had Cerinthus and Arrius robbing Christ of his Diuinitie: Moniche and Marcion of his Humanitie; the Nestorians, of the Vnitie of both p. 49natures in one Person. They are dead: oh, bury them, bury them: let their Heresies rot. Alas, how are the spirits of them all, by a kind of transanimation, come into the Romists? Christ is, there, robbed of his Truth of his garments, of his peace, of his life, as well as at Ierusalem; and that without shew of being his enemies; Spoliastis amici, You are my friends, yet rob me. Bones rob Christ of his adoration: stones of his Prayers: the Pope of his power. Remission of sinnes, validitie of merits, ease of paines, the Pope must giuegive; who would giuegive the world, that he had them for himselfe. Too much shall be giuen to the name of Iesus, more then he would hauehave; that a wicked man shall by it cast out Deuils: to whom if the Deuils reply not, as they did once to the audacious Sonnes of Sceua; aaAct. 19.15.Acts 19:15Iesus we know, and Paul we know, but who are ye? yet God answeres them, bbEsa. 1.12.Isa 1:12Qui… haec &c. Who hath required this at your hands? Too little to the nature of Iesus: Mans merits shall share with him in iustification: Penance in satisfaction: Angels and Saints in Intercession. These are subtill Theeues, that hauehave their bodies for a Communion, their consciences for a Masse, their voices for the Prince, their hearts for the Pope, their soules for the Deuill.

3. The third Viall of this Course is Sacriledge: a water, like some winding Meander, that runnes through our corne fields, and washeth away the Tenth, Gods part. This Sinne robs God of his goods: ccMal. 3.8. The sacrilegious, that I specially meane amongst vsus, are such as with-holde those rights from the Church, that the law of the land (rightly vnderstood) alloweth her. As those that will not present without reseruation, &cMal 3:8Will a man rob God? yet ye hauehave robbed mee: but ye say, wherein hauehave we robbed thee? in Tithes and offrings. Oh! that none among vsus durst drinke of these Stollen waters! but, alas, what law can be giuen to rob Altars? If Blindasinus be a man of gifts, so iustified by the sensible Presenter, what should crosse his admission? Is not a Quare impedit, his speciall friend? yes; and yet not more, then a Prohibition is often a good Ministers foe. Hence now p. 50there is little difference betwixt seruing at the Altar, and steruing at the Altar. Ministers hauehave (multos laudatores, paucos datores,) Many praisers, few raisers; many benedictors, few benefactors.

Plead not, that they are not stollen, because conueyed by the Ministers consent; for the right is originally in God. Spoliastis me: You hauehave robbed me: me, saith the Lord. The Incumbent consenting is not robbed, God is. They zealously require a learned Ministrie, when themselues imbezzell the rewards of learning: they complaine of an ignorant, not of a beggerly Clergie. They are content, wee should stand in the Pulpit, so long as they may sit in a Tith-shocke; and seeme wonderfully affected with the oraculous voice of their Minister, but the creaking noise of a Tith-Cart into their owne Barne is better Musicke. Oh, the fearefull cry of this Sinne in the eares of God against this Land! he hath sprinkled some drops of his angry Viall for it: Droughts, blastings, witherings, are but his Distringis: he destroyes all, because we will not pay some: Si domino decimam non dederis, ad decimam reuerteris: He doth iustly take away the nine,August. when we denie him the Tenth: Indeede I confesse, that many an Eliashib compacts with Tobiah, Nehe. 13.5.to steale holy things: a Cnosticke Patron, a Paphian Priest: so the one hauehave ease, let the other take benefite. Tobiah must hauehave the Tith-corne, the glebe land, and perhaps the very house for a Dairy, and his Cosen Eli…sh…b shall hauehave the tith Geese, and the Egges at Easter. Shall not the Lord visite for such wi…kednesse as this? Ier. 5.9.Jer 5:9shall not my soule be auenged on such a nation?

Whiles the rewards of knowledge are diuerted to profane vses, God and his heauen is robbed of thousand thousand soules: Oh, pray we, (quid enim nisi vota supersunt?) Pray wee, with that most reuerend Bishop, That God would rather conuert;B. Babing. in Gen. cap. 47.Gen 47 if not, confound p. 51those that rob him of his goods, the Church of her right, the people of vnderstanding. But if no contestation of God, nor protestation of men, can stint their swallowing these stolne waters, let some good Nehemiah be reuiued, to re-inforce from their felonious hands, that aaGal. 6.6.Gal 6:6holy Rent, which God hath from eueryevery Tenant of his reserued: let the zeale of some Phinees turne away Gods wrath from our Israell. Decimate, quibus debetis, et diuites fietis: Pay your tithes, to whom you should pay them, and you shall be enriched. bbMal. 3.10.Mal 3:10Bring ye all your Tithes into the Store-house, that there may be meate in mine house, and proue me now here-with, saith the Lord of Hostes, if I will not open you the windores of Heauen, and powre you out a blessing, that there shall not be roome enough to receiue it. 2 Macch. 3.2 Macc 3Reade and ponder Heliodorus deede and doome, and quake at it. You cannot steale waters from the liuing God, but they will poison you.

4. The fourth Viall is Faction, a Water of Trouble to the drinker: this robs God of his order and peace: the Waters of Schisme are stollen waters: yet such as many a Separatist loues to drinke of: they thinke not that they rob God, whiles they steale peace from the Church. Christi tunica must be vnica: Christs Coate was without seame, his truth must be without Rent: wee must be all at one, least at all none. Let vsus not pleade so hard for paritie in the Church, till wee bring Anarchie into the Common-wealth: let our dispositions be like Abrahams: ccGen. 13.8.Gen 13:8I pray thee, let there be no strife betweene mee and thee, for we are Brethren. Let not Gods eutaxie, Order, by our friuolous scruples be brought to ataxie, Confusion. Let Calum's rule ouer-rule our turbulent and refractarie spirits: Omnia indifferentia in Ecclesiae libertate posita sunt. Instit. lib. 4. cap. 17. Sect. 43.All indifferent things are put to the disposition and ordering of the Church. Oh you, whom Christ hath made Fishers of soules, fish no longer in p. 52troubled waters: Let vsus not wrangle any more about colours, as the Constantinopolitans did once in the dayes of Iustinian, about blew and greene; till they were all neither blew nor greene, but red; the streetes swimming in bloud, and the Emperour himselfe endangered. So the Factions of the B…anchi and Neri, about the two colours of blacke and white, cost the Dukedome of Florence deere, euen the beautie and peace of the Countrey. What, hauehave wee all beene deceiued? hath God beene a stranger to vsus all this while? ddIoh. 14 9.John 14:9Ha…e I beene so long time with you, and hauehave you not knowne mee, saith Christ to Philip? hath the Truth beene hid in corners; that we must grope for it in a Sectaries budget? or are not such men rather, sicke of Donatisme? that eueryevery Nouelist with a whirlegig in his braine, must broach new opinions, and those made Canons, nay Sanctions; as sure as if a generall Councell had confirmed them. Wretched men, that shake off the true comely habite of Religion, to bespeake them a new-fashioned suite of profession at an Humourists Shop. Oh that their sore eyes could, before they left vsus, hauehave seene what sacrilegious breaches they hauehave made into Gods free-hold; robbing his Church of her peace, and waking the Spouse of Christ with their turbulent noises. Factions are stollen waters.

5. The last viall of this first Course is Profanenesse: a compounded Water, whereout no sinne is excluded: there was no poison the Deuill could thinke on left out, when he tempered this water. It robbes God of his glory. Wee are borne to honour God: it is his due; and that hee will hauehave, either (ate, or dete) by thee, or vponupon thee: Irreligion robbes him of this honour: Solummodo hoc …habet, &c. onelyonly he hath this to helpe himselfe, that hee can make it shine in thy …ust confusion. So ee2 King. 15.16.2 Kgs 15:16Menahem destroyed Tipsah, because they p. 53would not open vntounto him: but these will open to Christ knocking, if hee will be content:

Stramineas habitare casas, &c.

Basely to dwell in the diuided part,

O… the fowle, sluttish, and polluted hart.

If CHRIST will dwell with Bel…all, and share part of the Conscience with wickednesse, let him come, and welcome: but hee scornes to be an Inmate, and let Sathan be Lord of the house: he that ac…epted a stable for his presence-chamber in his humilitie, doth iustly disdaine such abode now in his glory: though the walls be but Clay, if the furniture be good, Humilitie and Repentance; and the cheere answerable, Faith and Charitie, eeReuel. 3.20.Rev 3:20hee will enter in and Feast. But as his Wombe was, wherein borne; and his Tombe, wherein buried; so must his Temple be now glorified. Hee was conceaued in a wombe, where none else was conceaued; receaued into a Tombe where none else was interred: so hee will temple himselfe in a heart, where no affected sinne shall be his equall. The profane among the Heathen were thrust from their sacrificiall solemnities.

Innocui veniant: procul hinc, procul impius esto,

Casta placent superis; pura cum mente venite.

Pure, innocent, and spotles sprites,

Are welcome to these holy rites:

To the profane and sensuall state,

Be euer shut the Temple gate.

But now, our profane saue that labour; they thrust from themselues all pious rites: they sing not with the p. 54Church, a ffCant 3.4.Song 3:4Tenebo te Domine, I will holde thee fast, oh Lord; but with Simeon, a Nunc dimittis, though with another spirit: they are glad to be gone. CHRIST is as welcome to them as C…sars Taxers to the Iewes, or the Beadle to the Brothel-house: so the ggMatt…. ….34.Gergesites tell him to his face: Sir, to be plaine with you, you are no guest for vsus: our secure liues, and your seuere Lawes will neuer cotten.

Men liue without considering themselues: vnde, vbi, quomodo, quo. Whence they are: where they are: how they do: whither they go: that all these mathematicall lines hauehave Earth for their Center. Whence are wee? from Earth. Where are wee? on Earth. How liue wee? vnworthy of Earth, or any blessing vponupon it. Wither goe wee? to Earth. Terram terra tegat: Earth to Earth. Wee are composed of foure Elements, and they striue in vsus for Masterie; but the lowest gets the better▪ and there is no rest till Earth hauehave the predominance. These men liue, as if there was neither Earth to deuoure their bodies, nor gulfe lower then Earth to swallow their soules.

This is profanenesse: The world is ranke & manured with sinne: Atheisme growes vp as a Tree, Errour and Ignorance are the Leaues, Profanenesse and Rebellion the Fruit, and the end is the hhMatth. 3.10.Matt 3:10Axe and the Fire. Their best is verball Deuotion, actuall Abomination. Diu… dunt opera a fide, & vtrum que perimitur. They seperate workes from faith: they diuide the childe and kill it. Workes are dead without Faith: and Faith is not aliue without Workes. They take away that visible distinction betwixt Christians and Infidels, whiles they liue not as honest men. Oh, that I could cut this point short, and yet keepe my discourse but somewhat euen with the subiect: but the world drinkes too greedily of these profane waters, which rob God of p. 55his glory. Most men are no longer Tenants to the Deuill, and retailours of his Wares, but proprietaries; (peruerted and peruerse persons) they striue to be as deepe sharers as himselfe. Machiauell will no longer worke Iourney-worke with the Deuill, hee will now cut out the garment of damnation himselfe. The Vices of these men are so monstrous, that they no lesse benumme in all good men the tendernesse of affection, then in themselues the sense of all humanitie. Vox faucibus haeret. It is a shame to vtter, an amazement to heare, yet they blush not to commit such execrable impieties. Impudence is onelyonly in fashion, and there is no forehead held so gracefull, as that the Prophet cals gracelesse, an iiIer. 3.3.Jer 3:3Harlots forehead, that cannot blush. Swearing swaggers out admonition: drunkennes drinkes downe sorrow and penitence: Vsurie floutes at Hell.

It was Epitaph'd on Pope Alexanders Tombe, Iacet hîc & scelus & vitium. Here lies wickednesse it selfe: it could not bee so buried vp. Hee was vile enough. Thais Alexandri filia, sponsa, nurus. Lucrece was his Daughter, his Whore, his Sonnes Wife: Horrid! that Viper went not to Hell issue-lesse. What is this but Infidelitie and Atheisme, though not in Antecedente, yet in Consequente: if not verball, yet reall: vnderunder the kk2 Tim. 3.5. Guid. Carthus.2 Tim 3:5forme of Godlinesse, an implicite renegation of the power? Multi adorant Crucem exterius, qui crucem spiritualem per contemptam conculcant. Many superstitiously adore the Crucifixe, that llPhil. 3.18.Phil 3:18are enemies to the Crosse of Christ, and mmHeb. 10.29.Heb 10:29tread his holy Blood vnderunder their scornefull feet: Nay, they are not wanting that bragge with Pherecides, that they hauehave as much prosperitie,Aelian. Var. hist. lib. 4. though they neuer sacrifice, as they that offer whole Hecatombes. They will bee wicked, if it bee for nothing else, to scape the rod of affliction.Iob 21.Job 21 They make p. 56sport with the Booke of GOD, as Daphias with the Delphicke Oracle;Cic. de Fate. who enquired of it, whither hee should finde the Horse he had lost, when indeed hee had none: the Oracle answered, inuenturum quidem, sed vt eo turbatus periret; that he should finde a horse, but his death withall. Home he is comming, ioyfull that hee had deluded the Oracle; but by the way he fell into the hands of the wronged King Attalus, and was by his command throwne headlong from a Rock, called the Horse, and so perished: as fabulous as you may thinke i…, the Morall of it will fall heauy on the deriders of God.

These are the sinnes, that immediately robbe God, fitly called by our whorish Sorceresse, Stollen waters; which shall neuer be carried away without account. The second sort of Stollen waters are those sinnes, which mediately rob God, immediately our Brethren; depriuing them of some comfort or right, which the inuiolable Law of God, hath interrested them to: for what the Law of God, of Nature, of Nations, hath made ours, cannot bee extorted from vsus, without Stealth; and may bee (euen in most strict tearmes) called Stollen waters.

1. Here (fitly) Irreuerence is serued in first: a water of Stealth, that robbes man of that right of honour, wherewith God hath inuested him. Euen nnGen. 21.Gen 21Abimelech, a King, a Gentle King, reuerenced Abraham: euen stately ooMark. 6.Mark 6Herod poore Iohn Baptist. Yes, let reuerence be giuen to Superioritie, if it be built on the bases of worthinesse, and to Age, if it be ppProu. 16.31.Prov 16:31found in the waies of righteousnesse: Indeed, it should bee so, that Seniores annis, should be Saniores animis, and praefectus perfectus; that eminencie of place and of vertue should concurre, that Greatnesse and Goodnesse should dwel together: but the conscience of reuerence is fetch… p. 57from qqRom. 13.5.Rom 13:5Gods precept, not mans dignitie; and therefore the omission is a robberie: the neglect of honour to whom it belongs, is a Stollen water. rrProu 30.17.Prov 30:17The eye that mocketh at his Father, and despiseth to obey his Mother, (doth he thinke them worthy, or not) the Rauens of the Valley shall picke it out, and the yong Eagles eat it. But, alas, these are those vnreuerent dayes, where (infoelix lolium, & steriles dominantur auenae) …nuectiues, railings, calumnies, libels, grow vp among sober and wholesome admonitions: the same ground produceth both Hearbes and Weedes, and so nourisheth both Sheepe and Serpents. Terra salutiferas herbas, eademque nocentes nutrit, & vrticae proxima saepe Rosa est.Ouid. de rem. amor. lib. 1. The Nettle growes vp with the Rose, and the Lambe must graze in the Wolfes company. These are like furious Beasts, that ranging for their pray, and being hampered in the snares, when they cannot breake loose to forrage, they lie downe and roare.

From this foule neast hauehave fluttered abroad all those clamorous Bils, slanderous Libels, malicious Inuectiues, seditious Pamphlets; whence not onelyonly good names hauehave beene traduced, but good things abused. Selfe-conceit blowes them vp with ventositie; and if others thinke not as well of them, as they of themselues, strait like Porcupines, they shoot their quils, or like Cuttels vomite out Inke to trouble the waters. That impudent and insolent claime is made ordinarie in these dayes: **Psal. 12.4.Ps 12:4With our tongue we will preuaile; for our lips are our owne. When the Eagle in the Ayre, Panther in the Desart, Dragon in the deepe, Leuiathan in the Ocean, are tamed; yet the ssIam. 3.8.Jas 3:8Tongue can no man tame; it is an vnruly euill, full of deadly poison. It is fiered, Vers. 6.and with no p. 58weaker Fire then Hels. Their hearts are Ouens, heated with malice, and their tongues burning peeles; they are neuer drawne, but there is a batch for the Deuill. These are not only the Geese in the Capitall, to gaggle at Statesmen in the Common-wealth; but Foxes also about the Temple, that, if they bee seene stealing the Grapes, fall a biting their descryers by the shinnes. Because the Church hath not heretofore giuen some the Keyes of her Treasure, nor called for them when Bishoprickes and promotions were a dealing, they will indite her of incontinencie with Rome, (miserable sonnes, to slaunder their Mother with adulterie.) What they would and can not doe themselues, they blame in others, with Corah, ttNumb. 16.3.Num 16:3Yee take too much vponupon, ye sonnes of Leui. Libels are stollen waters.

2. Murder vsurpes the second roome; a red Water, that robbes man of his life: whither they be Popish commissions to cut throates, for the Whore of Babilon can drinke nothing but blood; or the monstrous illuminations of the Anabaptists, deriuing reuelation from the spirit of horrid murder; that the brother should cut off the brothers head, by a command from Heauen, the Father & Mother standing by: Luther cals this a grosse Deuill:Est haec rudis cacodam…nis techna. Luth. or the sudden quarrels of our age, where euidences of pusillanimitie▪ or (at best) inconsiderate furie, are produced as arguments of Valour: A crosse word is ground enough for a challenge: and what issue hath streamed from these Duells, who can thinke and not quake? vvPsal. 106.38.Ps 106:38The Land is desiled with blood; not shed by an alien hand, God hath beene content, (talem nobis auertere pestem) to free vsus from that plague: but ciuill, vnciuill broiles. We fall out for feathers; some lie dead in the Chanell, whiles they stood too much for the wall: others sacrifice their hearts blood for the louelove of an Harlot: Not to pledge a health, is p. 59cause enough to loose health and life too. Oh, who shall wash our Land from these aspersions of blood? Murder is but Mans-slaughter, and Mans-slaughter no more then dog-slaughter. Parce ciuium sanguini, should be our condition of life, as it is a sanction of nature, (to spare the blood of Citizens, connaturall, collateral, connationall with our selues:) but now it is not spared (sanguini vel ciuium vel sanctorum) to spill the blood of either Citizens or Saints: yet precious in the sight of the Lord is the blood of his Saints, when the blood of his enemies shall not be impunely shed.

There is not a drop of blood thus spilt vponupon the earth, but swels like an Ocean; and nothing can drie it vp, till it be reuenged. The most excellent of Gods creatures on earth, the beautie, the extract, the **Microcosmos est Homo.abstract, or abridgement of the world, the glory of the workeman, the confluence of all honour that mortallitie can afford, and (what is aboue all the rest) the Image of the almightie God, with paine borne, with expence nurtured, must fall in a moment: and by whom? one sonne of Adam by another: the prouerbe is exiled, homo homini Deus, man is a God to man: nay, it is rare, saith the Philosopher, to finde a man to man: for want of vsing reason how many are beasts; and for not vsing it well, how many Deuils? Heare the Law, ye lawlesse broode of Cain, that slay a man in your anger: Blood for blood. You thinke to scape with a Pardon, but there is no pardon of Earth can ease the bleeding conscience. Let none kill Cain, that so eueryevery day kils himselfe. As in that great plague on Egipt, xxExod 7.19.Exod 7:19all the waters in their Riuers, Streames, Ponds, Pooles, Vessels were changed into blood, so shall it be in the conscience of the Murderer: his eyes shall behold no other colour but red, as if the ayre were of a sanguine dye: his visions in the night shall bee all blood; p. 60his dreames sprinkling blood on his face; all his thoughts shall flow with blood: If any Dauid scapes the wounds of mans sword to his body, or Gods to his soule, let him thanke the blood of the crucified IESVS, whose wounds must intercede for his, and procure a pardon. This is that Blood, which doth foreign, yyHeb. 12.24.Heb 12:24speake better things, and stint the ceaselesse cry of the blood of Abell: but all this to none, but those that bleed in soule for those sinnes.

Purge the Land of this blood, ye Magistrates: zzMumb. 35.33For the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of them that shed it.

They that in spilling blood such pleasure hauehave,

Let them not goe, but bleeding, to their graue.

Purge it then, lest God in reuenge make his arrowes dr…nke with blood. Feare not to finde them, ye Iurors, lest whiles you sau… a Murtherer, you expose, obiect, hazard your owne throates to his Sword. Heare this also, ye Phisitians, thinke it is the life of Man is questioned: the Epigram comes here to my minde:

Owen.Furtum non facies: Iuristae scribitur haec lex,

Haec, non Occides, pertinet ad Medicum.

Thou shalt not steale; the Lawyers square to right them.

Thou shalt not kill; is the Physitians Item.

Sell not insufficient drugs; nor pitch so high a price on your Ignorance. Let it not be true of you, that pessimus morbus est Medicus, the worst disease is the Phisitian.Adrian. That Emperour found it true, by a mortall experience, that Turba medicorum interfecit Regem; Physitians killed him. Blood is pretious, let it be preserued.

p. 613. Adulterie knowes her place: a filthy water, yet in speciall account at this Feast. It may well be called a stollen water; for it robs man of that comfort which the sacred hand of heauen hath knit to him; vnrauels the bottome of that ioy which God hath wound vp for him; subornes a spurious seede to inherite his Lands; dampes his liuelihood, sets palenesse on his cheeke, and impastures griefe in his heart. It is that speciall instance of wickednesse, whereby Solomon here expresseth all the rest. The whorish woman calls the pleasures of a forbidden bed, stollen waters. Woe is to him, that is robbed, I meane, the bitter woe of a temporall discontent; which is an inseparable consequent of Christian affection wronged: but more woe to the Robber; who, besides the corporall strokes of Heauens angry hand in this life, shall feele the fearefull addition of an eternall woe in hell. aaHeb . 13.4. Ier. 23.10.Jer 23:10Whore-mongers and adulterers God will iudge. If a present punishment be suspended, the future shall neuer be dispended with. Our firmament hangs too full of these falling Starres; corrupt Meteors, wandring Planets, that onelyonly glimmer in the night, when the Sunne of vigilancie is set. This cursed weede begins to grow almost as ranke in England, as in Italy: onelyonly no Authoritie giues toleration to it: they are heere, Aquae surreptitiae, waters of stealth; but there, Inuitant adaperta viros malè limina spurcos. The open dores inuite their entrance, whiles the law doth not onelyonly winke but warrant. There is no hope to keepe out Venus, when Drunkennesse her Gentleman-Vsher,Alea, vina Venus, &c. and Dice her olde company-keeper are let in. Many Nightingales hauehave sung sad lamentations, woe and ruine against these rapes and whoredomes; but the vncleane Sparrowes, cherping the voice of Lust on the house-tops, are suffered to hauehave nests in the roofe, when the good Nightingale is driuen to the Woods.

p. 62There are not wanting, by report, (and those no beggars) that iustifie this, and cleare it from sinne by arguments: strong wits, and those sublimed: the wittier, the wickeder. I will giuegive them a double answere, which no distinction shall euade. God hath charged, Thou shalt not commit Adulterie: Hazard thy selfe to dispute against and eneruate Gods Prohibition, and try, if the second confute thee not; the blacke poison of thy owne conscience; which is set bb1 Cor. 7.9.1 Cor 7:9on fire by Lust heere, and though it hauehave the fire of Hell added to it shall neuer be wasted. The Deuill was modest when he came to Eue, with, praecepitne Deus, &c, Hath God charged you not to eate, Gen. 3.1.Gen 3:1&c? now bluntly, Non praecepit Deus: God hath not concluded Adulterie a sinne. Inaudita oracula fundit. Impudence in the highest degree, to giuegive God the lye; and except against the absolutenesse of his precept.

I intended breuitie in the broaching these stollen waters; the matter forceth mee to prolixitie against my will. Lust hath many friends in these dayes; many Promoters, whereby shee insinuates her selfe to the world. Among all, those in print doe most mischiefe. Libri Sybaritici, as the same sinne-guilty Martiall calls them; Bookes of Epicurisme and Sensuality. Ouids amatories hauehave bright and trite couers, when the booke of God lyes in a dustie corner. The Deuill playes with vsus, as Hippomenes with Atalanta, M…a…. 10.seeing vsus earnest in our race to Heauen, throwes vsus heere and there a golden Ball, an idle Pamphlet. If Cleanthes open his Shop, hee shall hauehave Customers: Many a Traueller there sets downe his staffe; though hee pulls off his eyes with Ouids dole: Cur aliquid vidi, Tri…t. 2.cur n…xia lumina feci? Why hauehave I so couetously beheld these vanities? Paucis de Philosophià gust…ndum, Gell. lib. 3.was the olde charge: let few drinke at the fountaine of Philosophy: but we are drunk with that, p. 63all Philosophy condemned. The Stationer dares hardly venture such cost on a good Sermon, as for an Idle Play: it will not sell so well: wicked dayes the whiles. Oh that they were all condemned to an Ephesian fire;Act. 19.Acts 19 that we might say, as Alcibiades of that Athenian heape of burning scrowles, Nunquam vidi ignem clariorem: We neuer saw a clearer fire.

4. Theeuerie needes no more then the name, to proue it a Water of Stealth: This robbes man of his goods; those temporall things, whereof God hath made him a proprietarie: A sinne which Vsurers and Money-mongers doe bitterly raile at: They that are of no religion, yet plead religion hard against Theeues: They can lay the law to them, that hauehave no conscience themselues▪ They rob a Countrey, yet thinke themselues honest men; and would hang a poore pettie robber for fortie pence. Let him answere them in the Satyre.

O maior tandem parcas in sane minori.

As no theft can scape condemnation, so yet di…ferent degrees shall be punished with di…ferent torments. Extortion, vsury, fraud, iniustice, are not lesse thefts, because lesse manifest. Antiochus could make a black horse which he had stollen, seeme white, and a white blacke; so these Theeues hauehave trickes to make euill good, and good euill: especially tacente lege, Esa. 5.20.Isa 5:20so long as the law holds her peace. But as the other escape not the Gallowes, so one day, Dabit Deus his qu… que funem; God will giuegive these also condigne punishment. They say, that the dung of the Blacke-bird falling on the Oake, turnes into slime; of that slime is made Birdlime; of that Birdlime is the Birde her-selfe snared. So these graund Theeues twine a cord of three strings, Iniurie, Vsurie, Fraud; p. 64Couetousnesse twists them into a rope, the Deuil makes the noose, a…d of this cord they are strangled: A threefold Cable is not easily broken. Whiles they steale from others the interest, they rob themselues of the principall, their soules. They please the world with their baites, ready money, but there is a hooke vnderunder the baite.

Munera magna quidem misit, sed misit in hamo:

Mart. Epig.Sic piscatorem piscis amare potest.

I hauehave reade of an Athenian, such another Fisher; that he had in an apparition a net giuen him,Aen. Sylu. to catch whole Cities in; but for all that, hee died a beggar: These Theeues hauehave such nets to catch whole Townes, Commons, Churches, Steeples and all, but in the end the net breakes, and the Fisher topples into the deepe, whence he neuer comes out againe: for these Swine so roote into the earth, till they eate themselues into hell.

I do not spare with conniuence the Iunior Theeues, because I bring their Fathers to the barre first. He that shall with a violent or subtill hand, Lyon-like or Foxe-like, take away that, which God hath made mine; endangers at once his body to the worlds, his soule to heauens sword of Iustice: and shall passe from a temporall Barre, to the Tribunall Iudgement of Christ. Let not misconstruction heare me: there are more of these, dye honest men, then of Vsu…ers: for one Vsurers repentance, I will produce you tenne executed Theeues. OnelyOnly here it is, the great The…ues agree one with another; Claw me, and I will claw thee: Winke at mine, and I will not see thy faults: They tune like Bells, and want but hanging. For these Theeues, I might indeede be silent and spare my breath, to the conuersion of more hopefull sinners: but we must free our consciences from the guiltinesse of not reprouing; least they p. 65curse vsus on their Death-beds, as that Vsurer made his will; wherein hee bequeathed his soule to the Deuill for extorting, his Wife for inducing, his Deacon for induring, or not reprouing. Though eueryevery Vsurer makes account to walke to hell, (yet since both hell and heauen be equally set to his choyse, why should he chuse the worst way?) let not his Minister, for silence, beare him company.

Well; the Thiefe knowes his doome, a double banishment, out of the Territories of earth, out of the confines of heauen:Ephes. 4.28.Eph 4:28 therefore let him that hath stollen steale no more? Repentance shall bee sure of merciemercy. And let not the great Thiefe thinke to scape; as hee is a Gallimaufrey of all sinnes, so he shall hauehave a Rendeuous of all punishments. His house is the Deuils Tauerne; the guests hauehave sweet wine, but a sharpe reckoning. The Deuils Fence-schoole, as the stabbings, woundings, hackings, rackings which torture the Common-wealth, are there experimentally taught. The Deuils Brothell-house, where the Vsurer is the Bawde, and his money's the Harlots: (onelyonly they differ from Harlots in their pregnancie and teeming, for they lay like Pigeons eueryevery monethmonth:) marry because the Deuill is Land-lord, his rent eates out all their gaines.

5. Slaunder is a water in great request: eueryevery guest of the Deuill is continually sipping of this Viall. It robs man of his good name, which is aboue all riches ▪ Prou. 22.1.Prov 22:1There be some thinke to scape this censure: though they speake euils of others, yet true euils: but aaGen. 9.22 25.Gen 9:22Cham is cursed for declaring his Fathers nakednesse, though true. These are like vultures, ad male olentia feruntur; They passe ouer M…dowes and flowers to fall vponupon carions: like Flyes, they leape ouer all a mans good parts and vertues, to light vponupon his sores. If Noah had not been once drunke, Cham had lost his sport. There p. 66are many of these bb1 Sam. 23.19.1 Sam 23:19Ziphims, that to currie fauour with Saul, betray Dauid: but in my opinion, cc1 S…. 22.9.Doegs truth was worse then ddIosh. ….5.Rahabs lye. A mans good name is deere. Pleri que famam, qui non conscientiam verentur. Manie stand vponupon their credite, that neglect their conscience.I…ro. Vilium est hominum alios viles facere, et qui suo merito placere non possunt, placere velle aliorum comparatione. It is the part of vile men to vilefie others, and to climbe vp to immerited praise, by the staires of anothers disgrace. This is no new dish at some Nouelists table; to make a mans discredite, as sawce to their meate: they will tosse you the maligned's reputation, with the rackets of reproach from one to another, and neuer bandie it away, till they hauehave supped. If they want matter, Iealousie is fewell enough: it is crime enough for a Formalist, (so they terme him) that hee is but suspected guilty. But the Matrone of the Cloyster would neuer hauehave sought the Nunne in the Vault, if shee had not beene there her selfe. It was Publius Claudius his best pollicie, least Cicero should accuse him iustly of Sacriledge, to step in first and tell the Senate, that Tullie profaned all religion in his house Thus he that hath most corrupt lungs, soonest complaines of the vnsauourie breath of others.

The Calumniatour is a wretched Thiefe, and robs man of the best thing he hath: if it be a true Maxime, that the efficacie of the Agent is in the apt disposition of the Patient; whiles thou depriuest man of his credit, thou takest from him all power to doe good. The slanderer wounds three at one blow; Vno ictu, vno nictu. 1. The receiuer, in poisoning his heart with an vncharitable conceite. 2. The reputation of the slandered: for a mans name is like a glasse, if it bee once crack'd, it is soone broken: eueryevery Brier is readie to snatch at the torne garment. 3. The worst blow lights p. 67on his owne soule: for the Arrow will rebound: Maledixit sibi. The slandered scapes best:Psal. 37.6.Ps 37:6 For God shall bring forth his righteousnesse as the light, &c.

These are those Hogges in a Garden, which roote vp the flowers of a mans good parts. But if there were no receiuer, there would be no Thiefe: men would not so burden themselues with the coales of contumely, if they had no where to vnloade them. It were well for Mephibosheth, that Ziba dwelt a good way from Court. If Saul were deafe, or Doeg dumbe; no matter which: for these are two Whelpes of that Littour, that must goe to hell: one hath the Deuill in his eares, the other in his tongue. It is a good generall rule of Saint Bernard to gouerne our tongues by.Ber. Sint verba tua rara, vera, ponderosa: rara, contra multiloquium; vera, contra falsiloquium; ponderosa, contra vaniloquium. Let thy words bee few, true, substantiall: many words, false words, vaine words, become not a Christians lips. Inuectiues against other men are euer euill, but then worse, when they be false▪ a man may sinne, euen in speaking the truth, when iust circumstances forbid it; but hee cannot but sinne in lying; and there is no circumstance can cleare him. Cor linguae foederat naturae sanctio, veluti in quodam certo connubio: ergo cum dissonent cor et locutio, sermo concipitur in adulterio. Nature hath knit the heart and the tongue together in the bands of marriage; that which the tongue brings forth, without (or contrary to) the heart, is the birth of adulterie. Speake then the truth from thy heart, but wrong not thy brother with a needlesse truth. Thus Calumnies are stollen waters! Beware then you Diaboli, accusers of your Brethren, Dogges with arrowes in your thighes, that are troubled with sore mouthes, and Cankers in your teeth, you drinke stollen waters, and minister them to others also; both Physitian & Patient shall die for it.

p. 686. The last Viall of this Course is Flatterie, a water taken out of Narcissus Well; whereof, when great men drinke plent…fully, they grow madde in their owne admiration: and when Selfe-louelove hath once befool'd the braines, the Deuill himselfe would not wish the traine of consequent sinnes longer. This is a terrible enchantment, that robs men with delight: that counts simplicity a silly thing, and will sweare to a falshood to please a Foelix. This man out-runnes the Deuill: he is the Father of lyes, yet we neuer read, that he swore to a lye: for he that sweares, acknowledgeth the Being that he sweares by, greater then himselfe; which the Deuill scornes to doe. The Flatterer in auouching a lye, and swearing to it, hath a tricke beyond the Deuill. The superlatiue titles of these men, cause others to ouer-value themselues. Pride deriues her encouragement from the Flatterers artificiall commendations. Thou art farre in debt, and fearest arrests; hee that should come and tell thee, thou art rich, able to purchase, swimmest in a full and flowing streame, thou giuest no credite to him, though hee would giuegive too much credite to thee. Thy soules state is more beggarly, broken, bankerout of grace, and runne in arrerages with God, yet the Flatterer praiseth the riches of thy vertues,Reu. 3.17.Rev 3:17 and thou beleeuest him. It is a fearefull and fanaticall blindnesse for a man to carie his eyes in a boxe, like Plutarches lamiae, and onelyonly looke into himselfe by the eyes of his Parasites: as if he desired to reade the Catalogue of his owne good parts, through the spectacles of Flatterie; which makes the least letter of a great shew, and sometimes a Cipher to be mistaken for a figure. The Sycophants language is a false glasse, and represents thy conscience white, when thou mayst change beautie with the Moore; and loose not by the bargaine. Let Herode be as hollow as a kexe, and p. 69as light as Ayre, yet weighed in his Parasites ballance, hee shall poyse with solid Vertue, nay, with God himselfe.

Oh, for some golden Statute against these Aristophanes Fawners, and Herodian Picke-thankes, that cry, foreign, and Vox Dei, like the Churchwardens Bils, Omnia bene, eueryevery thing is as it should be, when all the foundations of the earth are out of course. These Italianate Apes, and French Parrats, that can spinne themselues silken sutes (ex assentando) on the voluble wheeles of their pleasing tongues. Oh that wee could thinke, when these beasts play and skippe aboue their wont, that there is some tempest a comming. The Flatterer is a delightfull Coosenage, smooth periurie, rumours friend, Consciences aduersarie, Honesties murderer. Hee allures to Vice vnken'd; colours Vice perpetrated: the horriblest sinne is but an errour in his verdict. He can ffIam. 3.Jas 3Blesse and Curse with one mouth; Laugh and Cry with one looke; ggLuk… 22.48.Luke 22:48Kisse and Betray wirh one signe. Bion compares him to a Beast: Plato to a Witch; all to a Theefe; some to a Deuill. hhAugust. in Psal. 66.Ps 66Plus nocet lingua adulatoris, quàm manus persecutorie. There is no Foe to the Flatterer. The Gramarians fitly: Mobile cum fixo: like the Adiectiue, he varies case and gender with his Substantiue. A Cameleon! tet…git quoscun que colores, Metam.to all colours; except Red and White, saith Plinie: Red signifying Modestie, White Innocencie. Natio comaeda est: rides?Iuuen Sat. 3. maiore cachinno concutitur, &c. If thou sayest, it is hote, hee wipes his forehead: if colde, he quakes of an Ague. As in the Delphicke Oracle, Pythias did neuer prophecie, but when shee was set on a Treuit, and the winde blew intelligence into her: p. 70so this Deuils prophet is dumbe, till you set him on the Tripode of Ease, Credit, Gaine, and stroke him on the head like a Spaniell, and then hee will licke your hand, and fill your eares with the Oracles of Hell. Hee is sibi natus, multis notus, omnibus nocuus: Mundi nothus, Inferni nixus. Hee is borne to himselfe, knowne to many, hurtfull to all: the worlds Bastard, Hels true-borne Childe. Patitur dum potitur. Hee suffers much, that he may put vp somewhat, when hee speakes of the absent, hee knowes no case but the accusatiue: loues none (from his Patron) but the datiue. Hi… laudes numerat, dum ille laudes munerat. Hee will multiply thy praises, if thou wilt diuide to him thy goods. There is a monstrous fable in the Alcoran, Alcor. lib. 4.that the Earth is placed vponupon the sharpe end of an Oxes horne; the weakenesse whereof is the cause of Earthquakes: but hee that fixeth his estate on … Flatterers sharpe tongue, will put an Earthquake into it, and soone runne to ruine. Our Chronicles report of Canutus, that when his Flatterers stiled him Ruler of Sea and Land, he commaunded his chaire of Estate to bee brought to the Sea-side: and when the waues beat on him, he cryed, I commaund you to returne: the sturde waters, (scornefull of such a controll, as the Deuils were of the sons of Sceua, iiActs 19.15.Acts 19:15Iesus wee know, but who are yee? God wee know, calming floods, quieting the windes, but who art thou?) beat on him more furiously: then, loe saith Canutus, what a goodly God I am; and behold my commaund▪ conuincing his flatterers. Oh that some strong West-winde would ridde our Land of these kkExod. 10.19.Exod 10:19Locusts.

The last sort of Vials serued in at this Course, are Stollen waters, which immediately robbe our selues. The Deuill findes vsus cheare at our owne cost, and with cates stollen from our owne possessions, hee p. 71makes vsus a bounteous feast. Truth is, eueryevery Cup of sinne wee drinke of, is a water, that (at least indirectly) robs our selues: neither can wee feede on Atheisme, Heresie, Sacriledge, Murder, Adulterie; but we rifle our soules of grace, our Consciences of peace: for the Deuils Banket neuer makes a man the fatter for his feeding: the guests, the more they eate, the more leane and meager they looke: their strength goes away with their repast, as if they fed on nothing but Sauce; and all their sweet delicates in taste were but fretting in digestion; (like Vinegar, Oliues, or Pulse) neither doth batten & cheerish, because it wants a blessing vntounto it. OnelyOnly it gets them a stomach: the more hartily they feed on sinne, the greater appetite they hauehave to it. Though custome of sinne hath brought them past feeling, …phes. 4.19.and they hauehave long since made a deed of gift of themselues into the hands of licentiousnesse, yet behold in them still an eager prosecution of sinne, euen with greedinesse. Though mischiefe was the last thing they did when they went to bed;Micah. 2.….Mic 2 nay the onelyonly action of their bed, yet they rise earely, so soone as the morning is light to practise it. They may be sicke of sins incurable surfet, yet feele themselues hungry still; that the Cup of their wickednesse may be filled to the brim; and so receiue a portion and proportion of torment accordingly. Thus as the gyrouagi equi, molam trahentes, multùm ambulant, parùm promouent; the Mil-turning-horse, coniured into his Circle, moues much, but remoues little: or as the Poet of Ixion. Voluitur Ixion, qui se sequitur que fugit que : So, the more these guests eat, the more vnsatisfied they rise vp: Ye shall eat, and not be satisfied: ye shall drinke, Micah. 6.14. Hagge. 1.6.Mic 6:14& not be …illed; as he, that dreameth of good cheare, but awakes with an hungry soule. All the delights of sinne put not the least drop of good blood into the vaines, nor blesse the heart with the smallest addition of content. p. 72They browse like Beastes on these sweet boughes, but they looke thinne after it, as if they had deuoured their owne bowels.

1. The first Viall of this nature is Pride: a stollen water indeed, but deriued from thine owne Fountaine. It may strike God, offend thy Brother, but it doth immediately robbe thy selfe. The decoration of the body is the deuoration of the substance: the backe weares the siluer, that would doe better in the Purse. Armenta vertuntur in ornamenta: the grounds are vnstocked,Gen. 3.21.Gen 3:21 to make the backe glister. Adam and Eue had Coates of Beasts skinnes; but now many beastes, flesh, skinnes and all, will scarce furnish a prodigall younger sonne of Adam with a sute. And, as many sell their tame beasts in the Countrie, to enrich their wilde **Harlots.beasts in the Citie; so you hauehave others, that to reuell at a Christmas, will rauell out their Patrimonies. Pride and good husbandrie are neither Kith nor Kin: but Iaball and Iuball are brethren: Iaball, that dwelt in Tents,Gen. 4.20▪ 21.Gen 4:20Gen 4:21 and tended the Heards, had Iuball to his brother, who was the father of Musicke: to shew, that Iaball and Iuball, frugalitie and Musicke, good Husbandry and Content are brothers, and dwell together. But Pride and Opulencie may kisse in the Morning, as a married couple; but will be diuorced before Sun-set. They whose Fathers could sit and tell their Michael-masse-hundreths, hauehave brought December on their estates, by wearing May on their backes all the yeere.

This is the plague and clogge of the Fashion, that it is neuer vnhamperd of Debets. Pride begins with Habeo, ends with Debeo; and sometimes makes good eueryevery sillable gradatim. Debeo, I owe more then I am worth. Beo, I blesse my creditors; or rather, blesse my selfe from my Creditors. Eo, I betake me to my heeles. Thus England was honoured with them whiles they p. 73were Gallants, Germany or Rome must take them, and keepe them being beggars. Oh that men would breake their fasts with frugalitie, that they might neuer suppe vvith want. What folly is it to begin with Plaudite, Who doth not marke my brauerie? and end with Plangite, Good Passenger a Penny. Oh that they could from the high promontorie of their rich estates foresee how neere Pride and Riot dwell to the Spittle-house! not that but God alloweth both aaGen. 3 21.Gen 3:21garments for necessitie, and bbEsther 6.11.Esth 6:11ornaments for comlinesse, according to thy degree: but such must not weare Silkes, that are not able to buy Cloath.Chrys. Many women are (propter venus…atem inuenustae, saith Chrysostome,) so fine, that they are the worse againe. Fashions farre fetcht, and deere bought, fill the eye with content, but emptie the purse. Christs reproofe to the Iewes may fitly be turned on vsus: ccLuke 11.47.Luke 11:47Why doe ye kill the Prophets, and build vp their Tombes? Why doe yee kill your soules with sinnes, and garnish your bodies with braueries? the Maid is finer then the Mistresse, which Saint Ierome saith,Ier. would make a man laugh, a Christian weepe to see. Hagar is tricked vp, and Sara put into rags: the soule goes eueryevery day in her worky-day clothes, vnhighted with graces, whiles the body keepes perpetual holy day in gainesse. The house of Saul is set vp, the Flesh is graced: the house of Dauid is persecuted and kept downe, the Spirit is neglected.

I know, that Pride is neuer without her owne paine, though shee will not feele it: be her garments what they will, yet she will neuer be too hot, nor too colde. There is no time to pray, read, heare, meditate; all goes away in trimming. There is so much rigging about the Ship, that as Ouid wittily, pars minima est ipsa puella sui: A woman for the most part is the least part of her selfe. Faemina culta nimis, faemina casta minus: Sphy.too p. 74gawdie brauerie, argues too slender chastitie. aaEsa. 61.10.Isa 61:10The garment of saluation is slighted: and the bbReuel. 7 9.Rev 7:9long white robe of glory scorned: the ccRom. 13.14.Rom 13:14Lord Iesus Christ, a garment not the vvorse, but the better for vvearing, is throwne by; and the ridiculous ddPsal 73.6.Ps 73:6chaine of Pride, is put on: but ornamentum est, quod ornat; ornat, quod honestiorem facit: That alone doth beautifie, vvhichwhich doth beatifie, or make the soule happie: no ornament doth so grace vsus, as that vvee are gratious. Thus the substance is emptied for a shew; and many robbe themselues of all they hauehave, to put a good suite on their backes.

2. The next Cup of these stollen waters is Epicurisme: a water, which whiles we sup of, vve sucke our selues. A sinne, that vvhiles men commit it, it commits them, either to the high-way or the Hedges: and from thence either by a Writ, or a Warrant, an Arrest, or a Mittimus, Prou 30.8.Prov 30:8to the prison. Solomon saith, Hee shall not be rich. The Gut is a Gulfe, that vvill easily swallow all his commings in. Meat should be (as wise Agur praied) food conuenient for thee, or as the Hebrew phrase is, the food of thy allowance. This dish, is to feed on all dishes, that may pleas… the appetite, or rather may delight surfet; for appetite dares not lodge in an Epicures house. This Sinne is instar omnium; like the Feast it selfe: saue, that the Glutton feedes on Gods good …reatures corporally; but on Sathans mysticall boord is set nothing but what is originally euill, and absolutely banefull. So that here, Gluttony that feeds on all Dishes, is but a priuate Dish it selfe; and though perhaps for the extent and largenesse it takes vp the greater roome, yet for the number it is but one.

Phil. 3.19.Phil 3:19It is most rancke Idolatrie, sayes Paul; and so neere to Atheisme, vvith a no-God: that it makes a carnall God.Ierom. In mea pa…ria Deus venter: as profound, and profane, as the Babilonians sacrifice: they to their p. 75Bell, these to their Belly. Perhaps, you will say, they are more kinde to themselues: not a whit; for they vvrappe vp death in their full morsels, and swallow it as Pilles in the Pappe of delicatie. They ouerthrow nature, vvith that should preserue it, as the Earth, that is too rancke, marres the Corne. They make short vvorke vvith their estates, and not long vvith their liues; as if they knew that if they liued long, they must bee beggars: therefore at once they make haste to spend their liuings, and ende their liues. Full Suppers, midde-night Reuels, Morning Iunkets, giuegive them no time to blow, but adde new to their indigested surfets. They are the Deuils crammed Fowles, like Aesops Henne, too fat to lay; to produce the fruites of any goodnesse. They doe not (dispensare, but dissipare bona Domini) wisely dispence, but blindely scatter the gifts of GOD. They pray not so much for daily Bread, as for daintie Bread; and thinke God wrongs them, if they may not (Diues-like) fare diliciously eueryevery day. Sense is their Purueyour; Appetite their Steward: They place Paradise in their throates, and Heauen in their guts. Meane time, the state wastes, the soule pines, and though the flesh be puffed and blowne vp, the spirits languish; they louelove not to liue in a Fenne, but to hauehave a Fenne in them.

It is not plague enough that GOD withall sends leannesse into their soules, but their estates sincke, their liues fall away: they spinne a webbe out of their owne bowels: vvorse then the foreign, Men-eaters, they are foreign, selfe-eaters, they put a Pleurisie into their bloods, a Tabe and Consumption into their states, an Apoplexie into their soules, the meat that perisheth not, is fastidious to their palates; that they may feede on that, which feeds on them;Iohn 6.27.John 6:27 and p. 76so at once deuoure and be deuoured; drinke of a cup that drinkes vp them.

3. The third Viall is Idlenesse; a filching water to: for it steales away our meanes both to get goods, and to be good: It is a rust to the Conscience, a theefe to the estate. The Idle man is the Deu…ls Cushion, wherevpon he sits, and takes his ease. He refuseth all works, as either thankelesse or dangerous. Thus charactered: he had rather freeze then fetch wood;D. Hall. cha…. hee had rather steale then worke, and yet rather begge then take paines to steale; and yet in many things rather want then begge.Phil. Mel. Ignaui sunt fures, saith Melancthon: Sluggards are theeues: they robbe insensibly the Common-wealth, most sensibly themselues: Pouertie comes on him as an armed man. The Idlesbie is pouerties prisoner:Prou. 24.34.Prov 24:34 if hee liue without a calling, pouertie hath a calling to arrest him. When the Cisterne of his patrimonie is emptied, and seemes to inuite his labour to replenish it; hee flatters himselfe with enough still, and lookes for supply without paines. Necessitie must driue him to any worke, and what hee can not (auferre, he will differre) auoyd, hee will delay.

EueryEvery get-nothing is a theefe, and lazinesse is a stollen water: if the Deuill can winne thee, to plye hard this liquour, hee knowes it will whet thy stomach to any vice. Faction, Theeuerie, Lust, Drunkennesse, blood, with many Birds of this blacke wing, offer themselues to the Idle minde, and striue to preferre their seruice. Would you know, sayes the Poet, how Aegistus became an adulterer? In promptu causa est: desidiosus erat: the cause is easie, the answere ready: hee was Idle. Hee that might make his estate good by labour, by Idlenesse robbes it. This is a dangerous water, and full of vile effects: for when p. 77the lazie hauehave robbed themselues, they fall aboard and robbe others. This is the Idle-mans best end, that as hee is a Thiefe, and liues a beast, so to dye a beggar.

4. The fourth Cup is Enuie: Water of a strange and vncouth taste. There is no pleasure in being drunke with this stollen water: for it frets and gnawes both in palates and entralls. There is no good rellish with it, either in tast or digestion. OnelyOnly it is like that Acidula aqua, that Plinie speakes of, which makes a man drunke sooner then wine. Enuie keepes a Register of Iniuries; and graues that in Marble which Charitie writes in the dust, Wrong. It cannot endure that any should be conferred with it, preferred to it.

Nec quemquam iam ferre potest Caesarue priorem,

Pompeiusue parem.

Caesar can brooke no Greater; Pompey no riuall. Iohn Baptist was of another spirit:Ioh. 3.29.John 3:29 when he heard that the people had left him to follow Christ, he spake with the voice of content, My ioy is fulfilled. He must encrease, and I must decrease. Inuidus non est idoneus auditor. Ari…t.The enuious man is an incompetent hearer: his eares are not fit to his head. If hee heares good of another, hee frets that it is good: if ill, he is discontent that he may not iudge him for it. If wronged, hee cannot stay Gods leasure to quit him: he is straight, either a Saul or an Esau; by secret ambushes, or by open hostillitie, he must carue himselfe a satisfaction. No plaister will heale his pricked finger, but his heart-bloud that did it: if he might serue himselfe, he would take vnreasonable peny-worthes. S. Augustine would coole his heate. Vis vindicari Christiane? Wilt thou bereuenged of thine aduersarie oh Christian? tarry a while: Nondum p. 78vindicatus est Christus: Thy Lord and Sauiour is not yet auenged of his enemies.

Malice is so madde, that it will not spare friend, to wreake vengeance on foes. So Garnet told the Powder-traitours; that some innocent migh… be destroyed with many nocent, if the publicke good could not otherwise be perfected. His instance was, that in a Towne besieged, though some friends were there; yet no wrong nor offence, at aduantage to cut all their throates. Hence, if there had beene Papists in the Parliament-house, yet rather then loose so holy a massacre, they must hauehave flowne vp with others. Call you these Saints? Tantaene animis coelestibus irae? It was Gods reseruation in the olde Testament, Gen. 18.32.Gen 18:32for accursed Sodome, Si decem iusti, if tenne righteous persons be found there, &c. It was Christs suspension in the new,Matth. 13.29.Matt 13:29 Let the tares alone till Haruest, least the Wheate be plucked vp withall, Theodosius was taxed, that in sontes vnà cum sontibus trucidasset, that he had slaine the good with the guilty; and might not be suffred to enter into the Temple. In the Primitiue Church the Bishops staid processe against the Priscillian Her…tikes, ne catholici cum illis perirent, least some good Christians should perish with them. Iehu intending due destruction to the worshippers of Baal, 2 King. 10.23.2 Kgs 10:23made a speciall search, that none of the Lords seruants were amongst them. But malice is euer blinde, to see what sequell attends her courses. The Enuious man is content to loose one eye of his owne, so he may put out both his neighbours: nay, which is worse, hee will loose both his owne to put out one of his. The least trespasse shall not passe without suite. The Deuill can send him on a very slight errand to Westminster-hall. Be the case neuer so broken, if the Lawyers wit can stitch it together, that it may hold to a nisi prius, it is enough. I may (with a little inuersion) reade his destinie from the Poet.

p. 79Hunc nec dira venena, nec hostius auferet ensis,

Nec laterum dolor, aut tussis, vel tarda podagra:

Garrulus hunc quando …onsumet.

Let him not feare Domesticall poison, nor forraine sword, nor a stitch in's sides, nor a Cough in's lungs, nor the Gowte in's ioynts: Hunc proprius liuor cons…m…t. Hee will fret himselfe to dust. His Praecordia are steeped in Vineger. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: Prou. 14.30.Prov 14:30but Enuie is the rottennesse of the bones. The Drunkard rots his flesh, the malicious his bones: Hee burnes vp his bloud in the fornace of hatred.

Insunit; cùm aliena nequit, sua pectora rodit.

Madde, that his poyson will not others kill,

He drinkes it off himselfe, himselfe to spill.

Enuie is throwne like a ball of Wild-fire at anothers Barne; rebounds and fires thine owne. The Swallow hauing crossed some Lands and Seas, returnes next Summer to her olde Chimney: the Arrow of malice shot farre off, turnes vponupon his heart, that set it flying. Blesse your selues; you know not whither you will be carried,Matth. 13.28.Matt 13:28 if once you be horsed on the backe of the Enuious man. Forbeare then this water, as thou louest thy health, bloud, life and peace.

5. The fift Cup is Drunkennesse; a Viall of the waters of Stealth: a liquid foode literally taken. For that, which Ebrietie sinnes withall, is wine and strong drinke. (Vae fortibus ad potandum. Esa. 5.22.Isa 5:22Woe to them that are mightie to deuoure Drinke; and strong to carrie it away; for their habillitie encourageth their more frequent sinnes.) But Drunkennesse, as it is a Cup of this seruice, is a speciall water of it selfe, at the Deuils Banket. p. 80This sinne is an horrible selfe-theft: God hath past his word against him.Prou. 23.21.Prov 23:21 The Drunkard and the Glutton shall come vntounto pouertie, and Drowsinesse shall cloath a man with ragges. Hee that drinkes more in a day, then hee can earne in a vveeke, what will his gettings come to at the yeeres end? There is no remedie, hee must shake hands with beggerie, and welcome it into his companie. How many (in the compasse of our knowledge) hauehave thus robbed themselues; and beene worse enemies to their owne estates, then the most mischieuous Theeues! Theeues cannot steale Land, vnlesse they be Westminster-hall Theeues, crafty contenders, that eate out a true title with a false euidence: but the Drunkard robs himselfe of his Lands: Now he dissolues an Acre, and then an Acre into the Pot; till hee hath ground all his ground at the Malt-querne; and runne all his Patrimonie through his throate. Thus hee makes himselfe the liuing tombe, of his fore-fathers, of his posteritie: hee needes not trouble his sicke minde with a Will, nor distrust the fidelitie of Executours; he drownes all his substance at the Ale-fat; and though he deuoures much, is the leaner eueryevery way. Drunkennesse is regius morbus, a costly sinne. It is like Gun-powder, many a man is blowne vp by it. He throwes his house so long out at windowes,D. Boys. Postil. t…ll at last his house throwes him out at dores. This is the Tiplers progresse: from luxurie to beggerie; from beggerie to theeuerie: from the Tauerne to Tyburne, from the Alehouse to the Gallowes.

6. The last Viall of these selfe-stolne waters, is Couetousnesse: a dish of drinke at the Deuils Banket, which more come for, then for all the rest. The couetous is a cruell Thiefe to himselfe, worse then the Deuill: for the Deuill would giuegive much for a soule; how much vvould hee giuegive for himselfe? The Couetous man loues p. 81money better then his owne soule? This mercenarie Souldier is fit for any office in the Deuils Campe. There is no sinne so vgly, so hideous, but sent to the Couetous mans dore in a golden vizour, it shall hauehave entertainement. This Sinne is like a great Beast, which violently breaking vponupon Gods free-hold, makes a gappe wide enough for the whole Heard to follow. Fruitur mundo, vtitur Deo. The Couetous possesseth the world, and makes vse of God: but if a man cannot serue God and Mammon, he can much lesse serue Mammon and God: God scornes to be set after the world. He heauens himselfe on earth, & for a litle pelfe cousous himselfe of blisse. He steales quiet from his owne bones, peace from his conscience, grace from his soule! Is not this a Thiefe?

How much of fame, libertie, peace, conscience is laid out to purchase gold? some for louelove of it would plucke downe Heauen, and empty it of a Deitie: others to ouertake it, runne quicke to Hell. And they, that seeke it, finde it: for if a man will sell Heauen for pelfe, he shall not faile of his purchase. Hence Mammon is the God of no beggars; but Merchants and Gentles, and Cormorants, and Vsurers, and Chuffes. The Idols of the Heathen were siluer and gold: It is but inuerting the sentence. Their Idols are siluer and gold, and siluer and gold are our Idols.

Many a wretched Father playes the Thiefe with himselfe, and starues his owne carkasse, to leaue wealth to his Babe. Hee liues on rootes, that his prodigall Heire may feede on Pheasants: he keepes the Chimney corner, that his Heire may frequent Ordinaries: hee drinkes water, that his Heire may drinke wine, and that to drunkennesse. Though hee be richer then Diues, he liues like an Alchimist. Miserable Fathers make wretched Sonnes: none often hauehave more vndone them, then they that hauehave done most for them. They p. 82make heritages, but God makes Heires: the children of such Churles seldome rost what their Fathers tooke in hunting. Prou. 12.Prov 12Now what Thiefe can more spoile another, then such a man doth himselfe? he cannot find in his heart, to put a good morsell into his belly. He dares not eate an Egge, least he should loose a Chicken. A poore Beggar is in better estate then a rich Miser: hee wants many things; but this wants all things. Corpus extenuat, vt lucr…m extendat: He wrinkles and contracts his bodie, that hee may enlarge and replenish his purse: hee pincheth his carkasse, to stuffe his Capcase. No maruell, if that he heare not the moanes of the poore, when he is deafe to the complaints of his owne belly.Prou. 16.26.Prov 16:26 Whereas, he that laboureth, laboureth for himselfe, for his mouth craueth it of him. It is the voice not only of Gods spirit, that so it should be, nor of reason onelyonly, that so it must be, but euen of nature, that so it is; vnlesse in such vnreasonable beasts as the Couetous; or rather (worse then beasts, for they serue the necessity of nature) vnnaturall wretches: Dressing, like Cookes, much good meat, and not vouchsafing to licke their owne fingers. There is an euill, saith Solomon, vnderunder the Sun; and such an euill, that the Sun can scarse see a worse:Eccl…s. 6.1.2. A man, to whom God hath giuen riches, and that so abundantly, that he wanteth nothing of all that his soule can desire, yet God giueth him not the power to eate thereof, but a stranger eateth it. Thi… is vanitie and an euill disease. A Disease it is, and fitly called the Dropsie.

Thus the Couetous man pines in plenty, like Tantalus, vp to the chinne in water, yet thirsty. He that hath no power to take part of Gods blessings, which he keepeth, playes the Thiefe finely, and robs himselfe. His extortion hath erst stolne from others; and now hee playes rob-thiefe, and steales from himselfe. They say, the rule of charity should be fetch'd from home. He p. 83that is miserable to himselfe, will neuer be liberall to others; he that pines himselfe, God blesse me from begging at his dore. It is miserable liuing at this mans finding: for like a Chimist, he turnes eueryevery thing into siluer, what he should weare, and what he should eate; and so robs both backe and belly of warmth, of sustenance. All, to coniure a little money into the circle of his Purse; which he will doe, though he fetch Spels from the Deuill to doe it: yet keepes it onelyonly to looke on, not to vse. Nemini bonus, sibi pessimus. As he is good to none,Senec. so (let it be his plague) hee is worst to himselfe. He is euer in debt to his belly: the purest mettall is for his Coffer; the coursest meate is good enough for his stomach. He doth so crosse the vanity of Pride, which esteemeth the dearest things the best; that hee thinkes nothing sweet, but what is cheape. If euer he satisfie his complayning stomach with a good morsell, it shall be from his neighbours Trencher.

He hath not so much idle time, as to sleepe; but either he dreameth of his gold, or riseth to see if the dores be fast. So Claudian (amongst others) describes the Couetous dreame. Et vigil elapsas quaerit auarus opes. He seekes that in his sleepe,Lib. 3. Praef. which he could not finde waking. The Couetous giuegive better eare to the Priests of Ianus, then to the Apostles of Iesus: Quaerenda pecunia primùm est: First se…ke money, Hor.hath thrust out (Querite primùm regnum Dei) First seeke the Kingdome of God. Matth. 6.33.Matt 6:33They wil heare vsus willingly, if our Text be Commodity, Psal. 4.6.Ps 4:6and our Sermon Policie. A Bill, that containes the sale of a Lordship, or the newes of a Morgage, or the offer of good security for ten in the hundred, is more heeded, then a booke on the Stationers shop, with the way to heauen, for the Title. Neither let vsus (as is said) iudge him onelyonly to drinke of this water, that extorts from others; but euen him that pincheth himselfe. So S. August. p. 84Non solùm auaru… est qui rapit alienae, sed qui cupidè seruat suae. He is not onelyonly couetous, that raketh from others, but he also that taketh from himselfe. The niggards lookes to his entring guests,Plin. is like Diana's Image in Chios, which frowned with a lowring countenance on all that came into the Temple, but looked blithe, and smiled on them that departed. This is he that thinkes there are no such Angels as his golden ones; no such Paradise as in his Counting-house. Hee cares not to runne quicke to the Deuill of an errand, so gaine sends him, & payes him for his paines. He hath a short conscience, and a large damnation. He is a speciall guest at the Deuils boord; and neuer misseth his Ordinarie, which he affects the more, because hee payes nothing.

The more hee deuoures, the hungrier hee is: a full supper of profit, giues him the more eager appetite to his morrowes breakfast.Mich. 2.1.Mic 2:1 All he eates, is like Physicke to him; hee lookes thinner after it. Hee takes great paines to goe to hell: whither since hee will goe, hee might doe it with more ease. He hath no heauen, neither present nor future; and hauing sold blisse for riches, as Aesops Dogge did the flesh for the shadow, behold, he looseth both. Other sinners for their damnation, hauehave somewhat, which they call delightfull: the Couetous man buies hell with hell; eternall, with present anguish. Thus he robs himselfe of all content; and when all is done,1 Tim. 6.10.1 Tim 6:10 he's a man vndone, and pierced through with many sorrowes.

We hauehave now ended the seruice of the waters; with the 1. Praescription of their Beings, Waters: and 2. The description of their natures▪ stollen. The Vices, which vnderunder this smooth name the Deuill tempts his guests to surfet on, are to your hearing odious: I will step no further to fetch in application, then from the word, Stollen.

All stollen things are accountable for; the law of all p. 85Nations hath prouided, that (cui que suum) eueryevery man may enioy his owne. God is a iust Iudge,Applic. a retributor of eueryevery man his owne. No theefe can scape 1. The apprehension of his Pursuiuant…. 2. The apparance to his Sessions. 3. The penaltie of his sentence. He hath appointed a generall Assises, aaActs 17.31.Acts 17:31a day, wherein he will iudge the world in righteousnesse, by that man, whom he hath ordained, &c. To which there is a necessitie of appearance. bb2 Cor. 5.10.2 Cor 5:10For wee must all appeare before the Iudgement seat of Christ, that eueryevery one may receiue the things done in his bodie, &c. At which time (an account is not auoidable) ccEccles. 12.14.Eccl 12:14God shall bring eueryevery worke into Iudgement, with eueryevery secret thing, whither it be good or euill. What then will be the successe of these stollen waters? We carry out our robberies now vvithout question; wee inuade our brethren, we euade the Law: But behold, ddEsa. 17.14.Isa 17:14at Euening-tide trouble, & before the Morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoile vsus, and the lot of them that rob vsus.

Felony is the Inditement, a rebellion against our Soueraignes Crowne and Dignitie. Ambitious theefes in the Court, Simoniacall theeues in the Church, hollow-hearted theeues in the Citie, oppressing and men-eating theeues in the Country: all must be summoned, their debts summed, their doome sentenced. The impartiall conscience from the booke of their liues, shall giuegive in cleere euidence. There is no retaining of Counsell: no bribing for a partiall censure: no tricke of demure: no putting off and suspending the sentence: no euading the doome. The cursed generation of thefts are now easily borne, and borne out. Subtiltie can giuegive them the helpe of a conueyance, and money purchase a conniuence. But then alasse! what shall become of them, and of many soules for them? what shall become all the Traitours, gory Murtherers, impudent Atheists, secret Church-robbers, speckled Adulterers, rusty Sluggards, nasty drunkards, and all the defiled wretches p. 86that hauehave sucked damnation from the breasts of blacke Iniquitie. An impenetrable Iudge, an impleadable Inditement, an intolerable anguish shal ceaze vponupon them.Reuel. 6.16.Rev 6:16 Mountaines of Sand were lighter, and millions of yeeres shorter then their torments.

Oh thinke, thinke of this, ye Sonnes of rapine, that with greedinesse deuoure these stollen waters. You can not robbe God of his glory,Ephes. 4.Eph 4 man of his comforts, your selues of your happinesse, but God, Man, your owne Soules shall cry against you. What thunder can now beat into you a feare of that, which then no power shall ease you of? why striue wee not, Niniueh-like, to make the message of our ouerthrow, the ouerthrow of the message? and so worke, that according to Sampsons Riddle, the Destroyer may saue vsus? Wherefore are wee warned, but that wee might be armed? and made acquainted with Hell in the speculation, but that wee may preuent the horrour of it in passion? Let me tell you, yee theeues, that sit at Sathans boord; there is a theefe shall steale on you, steale all from you, dd2 Pet. 3.13.2 Pet 3:13The day of the Lord will come as a Theefe in the Night, in the which the heauens shall passe away with a great noyse, &c. foreign, a Theefe, foreign, to take away priuily, or by stealth: or, foreign, of hiding or couering. Fur a furuo, quia in obscuro venit. A theefe as well for stealing on vsus, as for stealing from vsus. He comes in the darke, when no body sees, treads on wooll, that no body heares, watcheth an houre that no body knowes.

This Theefe shall steale on you, perhaps Banketting at this Feast of Vanitie: as the Flood came on the old World, vvhiles they eeLuke 17.27.Luke 17:27ate and dranke, and were merrie. Matth 24.42. Hom. 78.Matt 24:42Watch therefore, for you know not what houre your Lord doth come. So Chrysostome on that place, from our Sauiours comparison of the good man of the house: non laederetur ille furto, si sciret venturum: vos scitis, paratiores p. 87esse debetis. The theefe should not hurt him, if he knew of his comming: you know he wil come, prepare for his welcome. We are all housholders; our bodies are our houses; our soules our goods; our senses are the Doores and Windores, the Lockes are Faith and Prayer. The day of our doome will come as a theefe; let our Repentance watch, let it neuer sleepe, lest we perish. Si praescirent homines, quando morituri sint, Chrys.deligentiam super cam rem ostenderent. If men foreknew the time of their death▪ they would shew carefulnesse in their preparation; how much more being ignorant? But alas! Ignorance couenants with death: and securitie eeAmos 6.3.Amos 6:3puts far away the euill day, and causeth the seat of violence to come neere. When the Prophets of our Israell threaten Iudgements, you flatter your selues with the remotenesse. ffEzek. 12.27.Ezek 12:27The vision that he seeth, is for many dayes to come, and he prophecyeth of the times that are farre off. As if it concerned you not what ruine laid waste the Land, so peace might be in your dayes. (But there is ggEsa. 57.21.Isa 57:21no peace, sayth my God, to the wicked.) our Rose-buds are not vvithered, our daunces are not done: sleepe Conscience, lye still Repentance. Thus with the sentence of death instant, and in a prison of bondage to Satan present, saith S. Augustine, Maximo gaudio debacchamur: De const. vit. & virtut.wee are drunken, we are franticke with pleasures. There may be other, there can be no greater madnesse.

Loe, the successe of these stollen waters. You heare their nature: time hath preuented their sweetnesse. God of his merciemercy, that hath giuen vsus his Word to enforme our Iudgement, vouchsafe by his Spirit to reforme our consciences, that wee may conforme our liues to his holy precepts. For this let vsus pray. &c.

What here is good, to God ascribed be,

What is infirme, belongs of right to me.

FINIS.

THE Breaking vp of the Deuils Banket.

OR The Conclusion.

BY THOMAS ADAMS, Preacher of Gods Word at Willington in Bedford-shire.

ROM. 6.21.

What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

TERTVL. lib. ad Martyres.

Pax nostra, bellum contra Satanam.

To be at warre with the Deuill, is to be at peace with our owne Conscience.

LONDON: Printed by Thomas Snodham for Ralph Mab, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Grey-hound. 1614.