The Trial of True Wisdom, Section 56
§ 56.
Fourthly, what think you of common Idolaters? are not they arrant fools? I'le give you but one inſtance mentioned, Exod. 32. and you will need no more. Turn to the place, and there you ſhall find, that thoſe blockiſh Iſraelites made them a molten Calfe, and then ſaid, This is thy god, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt, ver. 34. This is ſuch a pregnant example, that there needs no more to prove it; that a Beaſt ſhould be their god; yea, and a beaſt of their own making, and that this beaſt ſhould have brought them out of Egypt, which could not move it ſelfe, but as it was moved, and that before it had any being. This is ſuch a blockiſh abſurdity, that as one would think, ſhould never enter into the heart of him, who is endowed with a reaſonable ſoule. But what can the Prince of darkneſſe propound? that a wicked heart, (blinded with the cuſtome of ſinne, and given up by God, to be further blinded by Satan) will not believe, as appears by our Ranters, Shakers, and Quakers at this day.
And ſuch other fools are the Papists, though great Clerks, and wiſe men: who (if I could intend to aquaint you) maintain a thouſand ridiculous tenents, ſtif…y defending thoſe things for truth, which the Holy Ghoſt calls in expreſſe words, The doctrine of devils, 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3. And moſt juſtly are they forſaken of their reaſon, who have abandoned God. Yea, moſt juſt it is, that they who want grace, ſhould want wit too. If Idolaters will need ſet up a falſe god for the true, is it not equal, that the true God ſhould give them over to the falſe? Again,
Fifthly, how does lust blinde and beſot men? when the Adulterer prefers a filthy ſtrumpet before his own chaste wife, though his own lawfull Conſort is known to be more comely, and lovely then the ſtrange woman. Yea, when they ſhall confeſſe the ſame (as it was the ſpeech of one too great to name) That were ſhe not his wife, he could love her above all women in the world; a word able to rot out the tongue that ſpake it. But take an inſtance of this nature, I'le give you one amongſt many very remarkable. We read, Judges 16. that Sampſon cared more for his pleaſure in this kinde, then his li…t. O ſtrange debauchedneſſe! his filthy lust of a Nazarite, leaves him ſcarce a man! He that might not drink wine, is drunk with the cup of fornication. How could hee other then thinke, if luſt had not blinded and bewitched him? She whoſe body is mercenary to me, will eaſily fell me to others? ſhe will be falſe, if ſhee will be an Harlot. Was there ever ſuch a motion made to a reaſonable man? Tell me, wherewith thou mayeſt be bound to do thee hurt? Who would not have ſpurned ſuch a ſutor out of doors? And when upon the tryal he ſaw ſuch apparent treachery, he yet wilfully betrays his life, by her to his enemies. All ſins, all paſſions have power to blinde, and infatuate; but luſt moſt of all. Never man that had dranke flagons of wine, had leſſe reaſon left him, then this Nazarite. Many an one loſes his life, but he caſts it away; not in hatred to himſelf, but in love to a Strumpet, He knew ſhe aimed at nothing but his ſlavery, and death, yet had not power to deny her. He had wit enough to deceive her thrice, not enough to keep himſelf from being deceived by her. Thrice had he ſeen the Philiſtims in her chamber, ready to ſurpriſe him upon her bands; and yet will needs be a ſlave to his Traitor. Yea, in effect, bids her binde him, and call in her Executioners to cut his throat. O beware of a Harlot, as you would of the Devill! and the rather, for that under the habit of a woman, it may be the Devill in ſhape of a woman, as ſome have ſo been cheated. But
Sixthly, what can we think of an improvident Gameſter? is not he a Fool? who will hazard his whole eſtate upon the chance of a treacherous dye, that flatters him with his own hand, to throw away his wealth to another. And a Thief he is too, for if he wins, he robs another; if he looſes, he no leſſe robs himſelf.