Who sees not, and says not, that gthe days are evil! There is one laying secret Mines to blow up another, that himself may succeed: there is another buying uncertain hopes with ready money: there is another rising hardly to eminence of place, and managing it as madly. There goes a fourth poring on the ground, as if he had lost his soul in a ⟨p. 242⟩Muck-heap, and must scrape for it: yet I think, he would hardly take so much pains for his soul, as he doth for his gold, were it there to be found and saved. He that comes to this Market of Vanity, but as a looker on, cannot lack trouble. Every evil we see, doth either vex us, or infect us. The sight and inevitable society of evils, is not more a pleasure to the Sodomites, then a vexation to the righteous soul of Lot. One breaks jests upon Heaven, and makes himself merry with God. Another knows no more Scripture, then he applies to the Theatre; and doth as readily and desperately play with Gods word, as with the Poets. You cannot walk the street, but you shall meet with a quarrelling Dog, or a drunken Hog, or a blaspheming Devil. One speaks villainy, another swears it, a third defends it, and all the rest laugh at it. That we may take cresset-light, and search with Jeremiah, the streets and broad places of our Country, and not find a man, 2or at least not a man of truth. Who can say, it can be worse? Cease complaints, and fall to amendment. Ye Deputies of Moses, and Sons of Levi, sharpen both your swords. Consecrate and courage your hands and voices to the vastation of Jericho-walls. Be not unmerciful to your Country, whiles you are over-merciful to offenders. An easy cost repairs the beginning ruins of a house: when it is once dropped down, with danger about our ears, it is hardly reedified. Seasonable castigation may work reasonable reforming. The rents and breaches of our Zion are manifold, and manifest. Repair them by the word of Mercy, and sword of Justice. If Jerusalems roof be cast down, as low as her pavement, who shall build her up? It is yet time, (and not more then) enough. If you cannot turn the violent stream of our wickedness, yet swim against it your selves; ⟨p. 243⟩and provoke others; by your precepts, by your patterns. The success to God.
Who sees not, and sayes not, that gthe dayes are euill! There is one laying secret Mynes to blow vp another, that himselfe may succeede: there is another buying vncertaine hopes with ready money: there is another rising hardly to eminence of place, and menaging it as madly. There goes a fourth poring on the ground, as if hee had lost his soule in a ⟨p. 242⟩Muck-heape, and must scrape for it: yet I thinke, he would hardly take so much paines for his soule, as he doth for his gold, were it there to be found and saued. He that comes to this Market of Vanitie, but as a looker on, cannot lacke trouble. Euery euill we see, doth either vexe vs, or infect vs. The sight and ineuitable societie of euils, is not more a pleasure to the Sodomites, then a vexation to the righteous soule of Lot. One breakes iests vpon Heauen, and makes himselfe merrie with God. Another knowes no more Scripture, then he applies to the Theater; and doth as readily and desperately play with Gods word, as with the Poets. You cannot walke the street, but you shall meete with a quarrelling Dogge, or a drunken Hogge, or a blaspheming Deuill. One speakes villanie, another sweares it, a third defends it, and all the rest laugh at it. That wee may take cresset-light, and search with Ieremie, the str•etes and broad places of our Country, and not finde a man, 2or at least not a man of truth. Who can say, it can be worse? Cease complaints, and fall to amendment. Ye Deputies of Moses, and Sonnes of Leui, sharpen both your swords. Consecrate and courage your hands and voyces to the vastation of Iericho-walls. Be not vnmercifull to your Countrey, whiles you are ouer-mercifull to offenders. An easie cost repaires the beginning ruines of a house: when it is once dropt downe, with danger about our eares, it is hardly reedified. Seasonable castigation may worke reasonable reforming. The rents and breaches of our Syon are manifold, and manifest. Repaire them by the word of Mercie, and sword of Iustice. If Ierusalems roofe be cast downe, as low as her pauement, who shall build her vp? It is yet time, (and not more then) enough. If you cannot turne the violent streame of our wickednesse, yet swimme against it your selues; ⟨p. 243⟩and prouoke others; by your precepts, by your patternes. The successe to God.
- gEphes. 5.16.
- 2Jer. 5.1.Ier. 5.1.
