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.…

These are good deaths! blessed souls, that are thus dead. Their death is Mortification, and like the Phoenix, they are no sooner dead, but they are new borne. Their old mans Autumn is their new mans Spring-tide. There are none thus dead at this Feast.

These are good deaths! blessed soules, that are thus dead. Their death is Mortification, and like the Phoenix, they are no sooner dead, but they are new borne. Their old mans Autumne is their new mans Spring-tide. There are none thus dead at this Feast.

The dead, here, have seared consciences, poisoned affections, warped, withered, rotten souls. Twice dead, faith Saint Jude, and some without hope of growing, plucked up by the roots. Though the Pythagorean error, the transanimation or the departure of the soul from man to man, was brought to the Basilideon heresy: Nay, (which was more gross) though the Poets feigned, that the souls of men departed into beasts. Orpheus into the Swan, Ajax into the Lyon, Agamemnon into the Eagle, Politicians into Bees and Ants, the luxurious into Hogs, tyrants into Wolves: which were positions for Machiavell, and Articles of Lucians faith. Yet they might rather, (and that more favourably to their own credits, speaking according to mens lives) have affirmed that the spirits of beasts might rather seem to have entered men: if at leas• the beasts do not preserve their nature better then men. They live whiles they live; men are dead even living. Impiè vivere est diu mori. A wicked life is a continual death. And we may say of an old wicked man, not that he hath lived, but that he hath beene long.¹ Deus vita, à qua qui distinguitur perit. God is the true life, without whom we cannot live.

The dead, here, haue seared consciences, poisoned affections, warped, withered, rott•n soules. Twice dead, faith Saint Iude, and some without hope of growing, plucked vp by the rootes. Though the Pythegorean error, the transanimation or the departure of the soule from man to man, was brought to the Basilideon heresie: Nay, (which was more grosse) though the Poets fained, that the soules of men departed into beasts. Orpheus into the Swanne, Aiax into the Lyon, Agamemnon into the Eagle, Polititians into Bees and Ants, the luxurious into Hogges, tyrants into Wolues: which were positions for Machiauell, and Articles of Lucians faith. Yet they might rather, (and that more fauourably to their owne credites, speaking according to mens liues) haue affirmed that the spirits of beasts might rather seeme to haue entred men: if at leas the beasts doe not preserue their nature better then men. They liue whiles they liue; men are dead euen liuing. Impiè viuere est diu mori. A wicked life is a continuall death. And we may say of an old wicked man, not that hee hath liued, but that hee hath beene long.