The Drunkards Character, Section 70
§ 70.
ANd as all kinds of sinners are very industrious to tempt, How politick to fit their temptations to every mans hu…our.so are they very politicke, (in their generation) to use such meanes as is most likely to prevaile. For as all Fishes are not taken one way, but some with a net, some with a dart, or dragg▪ others with a hooke; nor with one baite, but every fish with that baite which is agreeable to their nature and kind, for the wise Fisher baites his hooke according to the appetite of the Fish: so Sathan by these his substitutes, doth most subtilely seduce every man according to the bent and streame of his own nature, and inclinary disposition. For as Iupiter transformed himselfe into the shape of Amphitryo, to embrace Alcmena; into the forme of a Swan, to enjoy Leda; into a Bul, to beguile I…; into a shower of gold, to winne Danäe: or as Neptune changed himselfe into an Heyfer, a Ramme, a Flood, a Dolphin, onelyonly for the love of those hee lusted after: or as Cataline in Rome, gate all the Gentlemen into his faction by feeding their humors, pleasing the covetous, with gold; the glutton, with belly cheere and dainties; the ambitious with hope of honour and preferment; and the like: or as S. Paul became all things to all men, that hee might winne the more, 1 Cor. 9. 22. so doth Sathan and his …mps, become all things to all men, that they may pervert and seduce the more▪
To which purpose, and for their greater advantage, they mark how every man is inclined; as, what hee loves, what hee hateth, what hee feares, what hee wants &c. and when they have the measure of a mans foote, then they will fit him; yea, let any man aske what he will, it shall goe hard, but he that offered the whole world to our Saviour, will accommodate his humour. As for example. Some Danäe will not be won to play the whore, unlesse her lover appeare in a shower of Gold; hee hath that way, by meanes of such an instrument, for her. Some Naaman will not bow in the house of Rimmon, crouch at a Masse, but for his masters favour; he hath that way for him. Another will not betray, or embrew his hands in innocent blood, without large promises of great matters; he hath that way for him, as promises (though they are the cheapest things men can part withall) are yet the strongest inchantments, these bee the strong lines of Rome▪ whereby she catcheth so many; promises, whereof she is as liberall, as ever was Antigonus▪ who was called Antigonus Doson▪ and let such Asses have no other Provender, but promises.
Indeed some are so cunning, that they will do more for a small present benefit, then for the promise of a ten-fold value; Sathan is faine to stop their mouths with ready money: wherfore Gehazi shall have the Talents, Achan the golden wedge, &c. O that men were so warie, as to say, —timeo Danaos & dona ferentes!
Or is there a Bathsheba, so chast; an Vriah, so sober; that the one will not be won to pollute the marriage bed; nor the other be made drunke, except they are solicited by a King; he hath that way for them: for even Kings are at his command, and ready to doe him service in the businesse of tempting; and it's hard to refuse pledging, where a King begins a health to his subject; for temptation is then stronger, when it proceeds from a mighty instrument: the requests of great ones are commands, their very sutes imperative. How many sober, and religious Vriahs, have beene wrought to excesse by this meanes? How many Bathshebahs, and Iane Shores have thus been won, to pollute both a royal and matrimonial bed: the very countenance of authority is authority enough with many.
Againe, is none so fit as the wife to tempt the husband? why then Adam shall be tempted by Eve, Ahab by Iesabel, Iob by his wife.
Indeed a seducer dares not shew himselfe, in a noted good mans company, in his owne colours; yea, vice stands abasht at the glorious Majesty of a soule well confirmed in goodnes: as Catoe's presence stopt the evill practises of the Romane brutish Floralia: wherefore in some cases hee either conceales himselfe, or playes the Hypocrite, by appearing in the garments and habit of vertue. As for example. Is there a holy man of God, that will not vary a haires breadth from what his Maker commands? Sathan hath another Prophet to seduce him, by pretending that an Angell spake unto him by the word of the Lord, saying, thus and thus, 1 King. 13. 18. Or is none so likely as Peter to prevaile with Christ? why then Peter shall take upon him the devils office, and, in a great deale of love, tempt his owne Lord and Master, Mat. 16. 22. 23. In a word, as he tempted the high Priests (those arch-Hypocrites) by love of glory; and as the high Priests with money tempted Iudas to betray his Master, and destroy himselfe: so he tempts every man, by that way and meanes vvhichwhich he knovveth most prevalent vvith the party tempted.