A00888:453
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.
3. The all-wise GOD complains.1 He doth no more, what could he do less? He doth not bitterly inveigh, but passionately mourn for us. He speaks not with gall, but as it were with tears. There is sweet mercy even in his chidings. He teacheth us a happy composure of our reprehensions. We are of too violent a spirit, if at least we know what spirit we are of, when nothing can content us, but fire from Heaven. He that holds the fires of Heaven in his commanding hand, and can pour them in floods on rebellious Sodom, holds back his arm, and doth but gently loosen his voice to his people. I know, there is a time, when the still voice, that came to Elijah, or the whisperings of that voice behind, this is the way, walk in it, can do little good:2 and then God is content we should derive from his Throne, 3Thunderings and Lightnings, and louder sounds. The Hammer of the Law must eft-sons break the stony heart of rebellion: and often the sweet Balm of the Gospel must supple the broken conscience. Let us not transpose or invert the method and direction of our Office; killing the dying with the killing letter, and preaching Judgement without mercy, least we reap Judgement without mercy to our selves. Some mens harts are like Nettles; if you touch them (but) gently, they will sting: but rough-handling is without prejudice: whiles others are like Briers, that wound the hard grasping-hand of reproof, but yield willingly to them, that softly touch them with exhortation. One must be washed with gentle Bathes, whiles another must have his ulcers cut with Lancers. Only do all, medentis animo, non s•nientis, not with an Oblique and sinister purpose, but with a direct intention to ⟨p. 244⟩save. An odious, tedious, endless inculcation of things, doth often tire those with whom a soft and short reproof would find good impression. Such, while• they would in intent edify, do in event tedifie. Indeed there is no true zeal, without some spice of anger: only subsit iracundia, non praesit; give thy anger due place,4