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.…

Diseases destined toward Death as their end, that can by Nature, neither be violently endured, nor violently repelled, perplex the flesh with much pain: but if Diseases, which be Deaths capital Chirurgeons, his preceding Heralds to proclaim his nearness; his Ledgers that usurp his place, till himself comes, be so vexing and full of anguish, what is Death it self, which kills the Diseases, that killed us? For the perfection of sickness is Death. But alas, if the sickness and Death of the body be such, what are Sin (the sickness) and Impenitency (the death) of the soul? What is the dimmed eye to the darkened understanding? the infected members, to the poisoned affections? the torment of the reins, to the stitches, girds, and gripes of an aching Conscience? what is the Child's (caput dolet) my head aches, to Jerusalems, (cor dolet) my heart aches? The soul to leave the body with her offices of life, is not so grievous, as Gods spirit to relinquish the soul with the comforts of grace. In a word, it is far less miserable to give up the ghost, then to give up the holy Ghost. The soul, that enters the body without any (sensible) pleasure, departs not from it without extreme pain. He that is animans animas, the soul of our souls, forsakes not our spirits, but our pain is more, though our sense be less. As in the Wars, the cut of a sword crossing the Fibres, carries more smart with it, though less mortality; then the fatal charge of a Death-thundering Cannon. The soul hath two places, an Inferior which it ruleth, the body; a Superior, ⟨p. 214⟩wherein it resteth, God! Mans greatest sorrow is, when he dyes upwardly, that GOD forsakes his God-forsaking soul. His greatest sense, when he di•s downwards, and sickness disperseth and dispatcheth his vital powers. Let then the inferior suffering waken us, to see the Superior that doth weaken us.

Diseases destined toward Death as their end, that can by Nature, neither be violently endured, nor violently repelled, perplexe the flesh with much paine: but if Diseases, which be Deaths capitall Chirurgions, his preceding Heraulds to proclaime his neerenesse; his Ledgers that vsurpe his place, till himselfe comes, be so vexing and full of anguish, what is Death it selfe, which kils the Diseases, that killed vs? For the perfection of sicknesse is Death. But alas, if the sicknesse and Death of the body be such, what are Sinne (the sicknesse) and Impenitencie (the death) of the soule? What is the dimmed eye to the darkned vnderstanding? the infected members, to the poysoned affections? the torment of the reynes, to the stitches, girds, and gripes of an aking Conscienc? what is the Childes (caput dolet) my head akes, to Ierusalems, (cor dolet) my heart akes? The soule to leaue the body with her offices of life, is not so grieuous, as Gods spirit to relinquish the soule with the comforts of grace. In a word, it is farre lesse miserable to giue vp the ghost, then to giue vp the holy Ghost. The soule, that enters the body without any (sensible) pleasure, departs not from it without extreame paine. Hee that is animans animas, the soule of our soules, forsakes not our spirits, but our paine is more, though our sense be lesse. As in the Warres, the cut of a sword crossing the Fibres, carries more smart vvith it, though lesse mortallitie; then the fatall charge of a Death-thundring Cannon. The soule hath two places, an Inferiour which it ruleth, the body; a Superiour,