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.…

As in the sickness of the body, so of the soul, there are critical days, secret to our selves, but well known to God; whereby he sees our recovery unlikely, and therefore turns us over to the danger of our sickness. That now too late Jerusalem knows, what was offered her in the day of her visitation. God blinds the soul blinded before by Satan; and hardens again Pharaohs self-hardned heart: Et quia non faciunt bona quae cognoscunt, non cognoscent mala quae faciunt. Because they would not do the good they knew, they shall do the evil they knew not. Thus is the souls death degreed up. Sin gathers strength by custom, and creeps like some contagious disease in the body from joint to joint; and because not timely spied and medicined, it ⟨p. 169⟩threatens universal hazard to the whole. It swells like the Sea: Unda levis, maiora volumina, sluctus ad coelum. An Egg, a Cockatrice, a Serpent, a fiery flying Serpent. Custom indeed kills the soul. The Curse that the Cretans used against their enemies, was not fire on their houses, nor rottenness on their beasts, nor a sword at their hearts; but that, which would in time treble to them all these mischiefs,¹ that they might be delighted with an evil custom. Temptation assaults the heart: consent wounds it: it lies sick of action: it dies by delight in sin: it is buried by custom. The Bell hath tolled for it, Gods word hath mourned: the Church hath prayed for it: but (quid valeant signa precesi•e?) What good can signs & prayers do, when we voluntarily yield our heart to him that violently kills it? Thus God leaves the heart, and Satan ceaseth on it, whose gripes are not gentler then Death.

As in the sicknesse of the body, so of the soule, there are criticall dayes, secret to our selues, but well knowne to God; whereby hee sees our recouerie vnlikely, and therefore turnes vs ouer to the danger of our sicknesse. That now too late Ierusalem knowes, what was offred her in the day of her visitation. God blindes the soule blinded before by Satan; and hardens againe Pharaohs selfe-hardned heart: Et quia non faciunt bona quae cognoscunt, non cognoscent mala quae faciunt. Because they would not doe the good they knew, they shall doe the euill they knew not. Thus is the soules death degreed vp. Sinne gathers strength by custome, and creepes like some contagious disease in the body from ioynt to ioynt; and because not timely spied and medicined, it