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.…

Nam quid longa dies nobis, nisi longa dolorum Colluvies? Longi patientià carceris, aetas?

It appears then, that Death is, to the good, a procurer of good. ¹Mors intermittit vitam, non eripit. Venit iterum, qui nos in lucem r•ponat dies. Their Death is but like the taking in sunder of a Clock, which is pulled a pieces by the makers hand, that it may be scoured, and repolished, and made go more perfectly. But Death to the wicked is the second step to that infernal Vault, that shall breed either an innovation of their joys, or an addition to their sorrows. Dives for his momentany pleasures, hath insufferable pains. Judas goes from the Gallows to the Pit. Esau from his dissolution in earth, to his desolation in Hell. The dead are there. Though the dead in soul be meant literally, yet it fetcheth in the body also. For as original sin is the original cause of Death, so actual sins hasten it. Men speed out a Commission of Iniquities against their own lives. So the envious man rots his own bones. The Glutton strangles, the Drunkard drowns himself▪ The male-content dries up his blood in fretting. The covetous, whiles he Italianates his conscience, and would Romanize his estate, starves himself in plain English: and would hang himself, when the Market falls, but that he is loath to be at the charges of a Halter. Thus it is a Feast of Death, both for the present sense, and future certainty of it. The dead are there.

It appeares then, that Death is, to the good, a procurer of good. ¹Mors intermittit vitam, non eripit. Venit iterum, qui nos in lucem r•ponat dies. Their Death is but like the taking in sunder of a Clocke, vvhich is pulled a pieces by the makers hand, that it may bee scowred, and repolished, and made goe more perfectly. But Death to the wicked is the second step to that infernall Vault, that shall breede either an innouation of their ioyes, or an addition to their sorrowes. Diues for his momentanie pleasures, hath insufferable paines. Iudas goes from the Gallowes to the Pit. Esau from his dissolution in earth, to his desolation in Hell. The dead are there. Though the dead in soule be meant literally, yet it fetcheth in the body also. For as originall sinne is the originall cause of Death, so actuall sinnes hasten it. Men speede out a Commission of Iniquities against their owne liues. So the enuious man rots his owne bones. The Glutton strangles, the Drunkard drownes himselfe The male-content dryes vp his blood in fretting. The couetous, whiles he Italionates his conscience, and would Romanize his estate, starues himselfe in plaine English: and would hang himselfe, when the Market falls, but that hee is loath to be at the charges of a Halter. Thus it is a Feast of Death, both for the present sense, and future certaintie of it. The dead are there.