The Devils Banket Described, Title page 1 – Dedication 1
THE Deuills Banket.
Described in foure Sermons.
1. The Banket propounded; begunne.
2. The second Seruice.
3. The breaking vp of the Feast.
4. The Shot or Reckoning.
The Sinners Passing-Bell.
Together with Phisicke from Heauen.
Published by THOMAS ADAMS, Preacher of Gods Word at Willington in Bedfordshire.
AMOS Chap. 6. Verse 7.
Therefore now shall they goe captiue, with the first that goe captiue, and the Banket of them that stretched themselues, shall be remoued.
Chap. 8.10.
I vvill turne your Feasts into mourning, and all your Songs into Lamentation: and I will bring sackcloth vponupon all loynes, and baldnes vponupon eueryevery head: and I will make it as the mourning of an onelyonly Sonne, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
AMBROS. de Poenit.
Pascitur libido conuiuijs, nutritur delicijs,
vino accenditur, ebrietate slammatur.
LONDON: Printed by Thomas Snodham for Ralph Mab, and are to be sold in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the Grayhound. 1614.
TO THE VERIE WORTHIE AND VERTVOVS GENTLEMAN, Sir George Fitz-Ieoffery Knight, one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace and Quorum, in the Countie of Bedford; sauing health.
Right Worshipfull:
THis Sermon, though it be borne last, was not so conceiued. But as it came to passe in Tamars trauell of her Twinnes; though Zarah put forth his hand first, and had a scarlet threed tyed to it, the distinguishing marke of primogeniture, yet his brother Pharez was borne before him. I intended this Subiect to a worthie Audience, fastning my meditations on it: but soone finding, that I had grasped more sands, then I could force through the Glasse in two houres, and loath to iniure my proposed methode; I let it sleepe, till fitter opportunitie might waken it. Now behold, without the common plea of this writing age, the importunate request of friends, I willingly aduenture it to the light. And since your fauour to my weake (or rather no) deserts, hath beene euer full of reall encouragements: since your affection to literature, (and the best of learning the Gospell) hath eue… vouchsafed a friendly countenance to your neighbour-Ministers: I could not make my selfe so liable to the censure of ingratitude, as not to intrea… your Name for Patronage. Which, though it deserues better acknowledgement, and findes it from more worthie voices; yet I, that yeeld to all in learning, would yeeld to none in louelove, and seruice to you. The cause in question requires a worthy defender: not for the owne weakenesse, but for the multitude and strength of oppositions. Men brooke worse, to hauehave their sinnes ransacked, then their inveterate wounds and vlcers searched. Qui vinum venenum vocant, they that call drunkennesse poysoning, speake harsh to their eares, that (quasi deum colunt) embrace and worship it as a God. You are one of that surrogation, into whose hands God hath trusted his sword of Iustice. Draw it in his defence against the enemies of his Grace and Gospell. You sit at the common sterne, and therefore are not so much your owne, as your Countries. O…r derided, reiected Preaching, appeales to your aydes. Helpe vsus with your hands, we will helpe you with our Prayers. With wisedome and courage rule the wilde dayes you liue in. Proceede, (worthy Sir) as you hauehave conformed your selfe, to reforme others. Reach forth your hand to your confined limits; ouer-turne the Table, spoile the Banket, chastice the Guests at this riotous Feast. You see, how iustly, this poore, weake, course-wouen labour desires the glosse of your Patronage to be set on it. I cannot either distrust your acceptance, knowing the generousnesse of your disposition; nor neede I so much to intreat your priuate vse, (who are stored with better instructions;) as your commending it to the world. If any good may, hereby, be encouraged, any euill weakened, my reward is full. The discourse is sexduple; whereof the first fruits are yours: whose my selfe am, that desire still to continue
Yours Worships in my best seruices, THO. ADAMS.