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.…

Thus wretched is it for a man not to see his wretchedness. Such a one spends his days in a dream; and goes from earth to hell, as Jonah •rom Israel toward Tarshish, fast asleep. This Paul calls the cauterized Conscience; which when the Devil, an ill Surgeon, would do, he first casts his Patient into a mort•ferous sleep: And that all the noise which God makes, by his Ministers, by his menaces, by his judgements, might not waken him, Satan gives him some Opium, an ounce of Security, able to cast Sampson himself into a slumber: especially, when he may lay his voluptuous head on the lap of Delilah. Israel is, then, sick in sin, and yet thinks her self righteous. Every sin is not this sickness, but only wickedness; an habit and delightful custom in it. For as to a healthful man, every ache, or gripe or pang is felt grievous; whiles the sickly entertain them with no great notice, as being daily guests. So the good man finds his repentant heart griped with the least offence, whiles great sins to the wicked are no less portable then familiar. Neither doth their strength in sin grow weaker with their strength in age: but preposterously to nature, the older, the ⟨p. 256⟩stronger.¹ And as it is storied of Roman Milo, that being accustomed a Boy to bear a Calf, was able himself grown a man, to bear the same, being grown a Bull: So those, that in youth have wonted themselves to the load of less sins, want not increase of strength, according to the increase of their burdens. Every sin then may be a stitch or fit to the godly; but that which is mere sickness, is mere wickedness.

Thus wretched is it for a man not to see his wretchednesse. Such a one spends his dayes in a dreame; and goes from earth to hell, as Ionas •rom Israell toward Tarshish, fast asleepe. This Paul cals the cauterized Conscience; which when the Diuell, an ill Surgion, would doe, hee first casts his Patient into a mort•ferous sleepe: And that all the noyse which God makes, by his Ministers, by his menaces, by his iudgements, might not waken him, Satan giues him some Opium, an ounce of Securitie, able to cast Sampson himselfe into a slumber: especially, when he may lay his voluptuous head on the lappe of Dalilah. Israell is, then, sicke in sinne, and yet thinkes her selfe righteous. Euery sinne is not this sicknesse, but onely wickednesse; an habite and delightull custome in it. For as to a healthfull man, euery ach, or gripe or pang is felt grieuous; whiles the sickly entertaine them with no great notice, as being daily guests. So the good man findes his repentant heart griped with the least offence, whiles great sinnes to the wicked are no lesse portable then familiar. Neither doth their strength in sin grow weaker with their strength in age: but preposterously to nature, the older, the