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.…

Such is the sophisticate doctrine of superstitious heretics; speaking for Gods precepts, their own prescripts: preaching themselves, and in their own names, for ostentation, like the Scribes: delivering falsehoods, and fathering them on the Lord, He hath said it: abusing mens ears with old wives tales, and old mens dreams, traditions of Elders, constitutions of Popes, precepts of men, unwritten truths, untrue writings, either with-holding the truth in unrighteousness, ¹or se••ing the word of God for gain, or corrupting it, and dealing with it, as Adulterers do in their filthiness: as these respect ⟨p. 296⟩not issue, but lust, so the other, not Gods glory, but their own wantonness: ministering Medicines, which God never prescribed to them. How can their ^afeet seem beautiful, when like monsters, they have too many toes on them, as the ^bGiants son; or too few, as ^cAdonibezeck and those whom he maimed: offending either in excess or defect? But it is gods fearful protestation in the end of the Book, summing and sealing up all the curses, that went before it. ^dIf they add, he that hath power to add plagues with an everlasting concatenation, will multiply their miseries without number or end. If they diminish, he that can abate his blessings so low, that not the least scruple shall remain, will return them their own measure. And for you, my Brethren, hear the Apostle, ^eLet no man beguile you with Philosophy, and vain deceit, or please you with false Balm. You may say of their natural learning, as Albumazer of Boleno, Henbane; whiles it grows, saith he, in Persia, it is venomous; but if transplanted and growing in Jerusalem, it is not only good medicine, but good meat. Well, if it were possible, that an ^f