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.…

This Thief shall steal on you, perhaps Banqueting at this Feast of Vanity: as the Flood came on the old World, whiles they ^eate and drank, and were merry. ²Watch therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. So Chrysostom on that place, from our Saviours comparison of the good man of the house: non laederetur ille furto, si sciret venturum: vos scitis, paratiores ⟨p. 87⟩esse debetis. The thief should not hurt him, if he knew of his coming: you know he will come, prepare for his welcome. We are all householders; our bodies are our houses; our souls our goods; our senses are the Doors and Windows, the Locks are Faith and Prayer. The day of our doom will come as a thief; let our Repentance watch, let it never sleep, lest we perish. Si praescirent homines, quando morituri sint, ³deligentiam super cam rem ostenderent. If men foreknew the time of their death▪ they would show carefulness in their preparation; how much more being ignorant? But alas! Ignorance covenants with death: and security ^eputs far away the evil day, and causeth the seat of violence to come near. When the Prophets of our Israel threaten Judgements, you flatter your selves with the remoteness. ^fThe vision that he seeth, is for many days to come, and he prophecieth of the times that are far off. As if it concerned you not what ruin laid waste the Land, so peace might be in your days. (But there is ^gno peace, saith my God, to the wicked.) our Rose-buds are not withered, our dances are not done: sleep Conscience, lye still Repentance. Thus with the sentence of death instant, and in a prison of bondage to Satan present, saith S. Augustine, Maximo gaudio debacchamur: ⁷