A00888:443
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.…
The devils banquet described in four sermons [brace], 1. The banquet propounded, begun, 2. The second service, 3. The breaking up of the feast, 4. The shot or reckoning, [and] The sinners passing-bell, together with Physic from heaven / published by Thomas Adams ...The deuills banket described in foure sermons [brace], 1. The banket propounded, begunne, 2. The second seruice, 3. The breaking vp of the feast, 4. The shot or reckoning, [and] The sinners passing-bell, together with Phisicke from heauen / published by Thomas Adams ...
London: printed by Thomas Snodham for Ralph Mab, 1614
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If we take the words spoken in the person of the Prophet, 1let us observe, that he is no good Preacher, that complains not in these sinful days. Isaiah had ⟨p. 235⟩not more cause for Israel, then we for England, to cry, We have laboured in vain, 2and spent our strength for nought. For if we equal Israel in Gods blessings, we transcend them in our sins. The blood-red Sea of war and slaughter, wherein other Nations are drowned, as were the Egyptians, is become dry to our feet of peace. The Bread of Heaven, that true Manna, satisfies our hunger, and our thirst is quenched with the waters of life. The better Law of the Gospel is given us; and our saving health is not like a curious piece of Arras folded up, but spread to our believing eyes, without any shadow cast over the beauty of it. We have a better high Priest, to make intercession for us in heaven, for whom he hath once sacrificed and satisfied on earth: (actu semel, virtute semper: with one act, with everlasting virtue.) We want nothing, that heaven can help us to, but that which we voluntarily will want, and without which we had better have wanted all the rest, thankfulness and obedience. We return God not one for a thousand, not a dram of service for so many talents of goodness. We give God the worst of all things, that hath given us the best of all things. We cull out the least sheaf for his Tithe; the sleepiest hour for his prayers: the chippings of our wealth for his poor: a corner of the heart for his Ark, when Dagon sits uppermost in our Temple. He hath bowels of brass and an heart of iron, that cannot mourn at this our requital. We give God measure for measure, but not manner for manner. For his blessings heaped, and shaken, and thrust together, iniquities pressed down and yet running over. Like Hogs we slaver his pearls,3 turn his graces into wantonness, and turn again to rend in pieces the bringers.
If wee take the words spoken in the person of the Prophet, 1let vs obserue, that hee is no good Preacher, that complaines not in these sinfull dayes. Esay had