The devils banquet described in four sermons [brace], 1. The banquet propounded, begun, 2.…The deuills banket described in foure sermons [brace], 1. The banket propounded, begunne, 2.…

I intended brevity in the broaching these stolen waters; the matter forceth me to prolixity against my will. Lust hath many friends in these days; many Promoters, whereby she insinuates her self to the world. Among all, those in print do most mischief. Libri Sybaritici, as the same sin-guilty Martial calls them; Books of Epicurism and Sensuality. Ovids amatories have bright and trite covers, when the book of God lies in a dusty corner. The Devil plays with us, as Hippomenes with Atalanta, ¹seeing us earnest in our race to Heaven, throws us here and there a golden Ball, an idle Pamphlet. If Cleanthes open his Shop, he shall have Customers: Many a Traveller there sets down his staff; though he pulls off his eyes with Ovids dole: Cur aliquid vidi, ²cur n•xia lumina feci? Why have I so covetously beheld these vanities? Paucis de Philosophià gust•ndum, ³was the old charge: let few drink at the fountain of Philosophy: but we are drunk with that, ⟨p. 63⟩all 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 days the whiles. Oh that they were all condemned to an Ephesian fire;⁴ that we might say, as Alcibiades of that Athenian heap of burning scrolls, Nunquam vidi ignem clariorem: We never saw a clearer fire.

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 haue bright and trite couers, when the booke of God lyes in a dustie corner. The Deuill playes with vs, as Hippomenes with Atalanta, ¹