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.…

Ad vel in Lectorem.

Religious Reader, (for I think, few of the profane rabble read any Sermons) let me entreat thee for this, that (cum lectoris nomen feras, ne lictoris officium geras) thou wouldst accept it, not except against it; and being but a Reader, not usurp the office of a Censurer. The main intents of all Preachers, and the contents of all Sermons, aim to beat down sin, and to convert sinners. Which the most absolute and un-•rring Scriptures have shadowed under divers metaphors; comparing them to beasts, to blots, to sicknesses, to sterilities, to pollutions, to leavenings, to whoredoms, to Devils In all which (and many other such figurative speeches) I thin•e it lawful, nay necessary for us, Gods Ministers, to explain the Metaphor; and (still within bounds of the similitude) to show the fit accordance and respondency of the thing meant, to the thing mentioned. Indeed, to stretch the Text against the own wil•, is to martyr it: and to make every metaphor run upon four fe•t, is often violabile sacris. B•t so long as we keep the Analogy of faith, and the sen•e of the present Theme, it is a fault, to find fault with us. Indeed Rhetorical flourishes without solid matter, is like an Egyptian bond-woman in a Queens robes; or the Courtiers Chamber, which is often a rotten room, curiously hanged. Gods word is full of dark speeches, ⟨image 4⟩dark not in themselves, but to our thick-sighted understandings: therefore his propositions, require expositions. Not that we should turn plain Morals into Allegories, but Allegories into plain Morals. The former was Origens fault, of whom it is said, (I speak not to uncover that Fathers nakedness; but to show that all men may err, and therefore truth of love must not prejudice love of truth) that wherein he should not allegorize, he did; and wherein he should have allegorized, to his woe, he did not. I have presumed, not without warrant of the best Expositors, to manifest the manifold temptations of Satan, under the Harlots inveigling her Customers. 1. As Wisdom ver. 3. sends forth her Maidens, her Ministers, to invite guests to her Feast of Grace. So Vice sends forth her temptations; nay, she sits at the door her self, ver. 14. and courts the passengers. 2. If Wisdom call the Ignorant. ver. 4. Who so is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith, &c.