A00888:452
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.
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.