A00888:135
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.…
The devils banquet described in four sermons [brace], 1. The banquet propounded, begun, 2. The second service, 3. The breaking up of the feast, 4. The shot or reckoning, [and] The sinners passing-bell, together with Physic from heaven / published by Thomas Adams ...The deuills banket described in foure sermons [brace], 1. The banket propounded, begunne, 2. The second seruice, 3. The breaking vp of the feast, 4. The shot or reckoning, [and] The sinners passing-bell, together with Phisicke from heauen / published by Thomas Adams ...
London: printed by Thomas Snodham for Ralph Mab, 1614
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The last sort of Vials served in at this Course, are Stolen waters, which immediately rob our selves. The Devil finds us cheer at our own cost, and with cates stolen from our own possessions, he ⟨p. 71⟩makes us a bounteous feast. Truth is, every Cup of sin we drink of, is a water, that (at least indirectly) robs our selves: neither can we feed on Atheism, Heresy, Sacrilege, Murder, Adultery; but we rifle our souls of grace, our Consciences of peace: for the Devils Banquet never makes a man the fatter for his feeding: the guests, the more they eat, the more lean and meagre they look: 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, Olives, or Pulse) neither doth batten & cherish, because it wants a blessing unto it. Only it gets them a stomach: the more heartily they feed on sin, the greater appetite they have to it. Though custom of sin hath brought them past feeling, 1and they have long since made a deed of gift of themselves into the hands of licentiousness, yet behold in them still an eager prosecution of sin, even with greediness. Though mischief was the last thing they did when they went to bed;2 nay the only action of their bed, yet they rise early, so soon as the morning is light to practise it. They may be sick of sins incurable surfeit, yet feel themselves hungry still; that the Cup of their wickedness may be filled to the brim; and so receive a portion and proportion of torment accordingly. Thus as the gyrovagi equi, molam trahentes, multùm ambulant, parùm promovent; the Mil-turning-horse, conjured into his Circle, moves much, but removes little: or as the Poet of Ixion. Voluitur Ixion, qui se sequiturque fugitque: So, the more these guests eat, the more unsatisfied they rise up: Ye shall eat, and not be satisfied: ye shall drink, 3& not be •illed; as he, that dreameth of good cheer, but awakes with an hungry soul. All the delights of sin put not the least drop of good blood into the veins, nor bless the heart with the smallest addition of content. ⟨p. 72⟩