Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

2 But his lame foot cannot be hidden (as they once foolishly fabled among the vulgar, that his cloven foot could not be changed) for his disobedience is manifest. If he saith, Steal, and God sayeth, Thou shalt not steal: Swear, when God saith, Swear not, dissemble, when he cries, Woe against hypocrites: be an usurer, when God sayeth, thou shalt not then dwell in my glory: what pretences soever gloss his Text, his lameness cannot be hidden. All his policy cannot devise a boot to keep him from this halting. This is the first & worst Suitor.

2 But his lame foot cannot bee hidden (as they once foolishly fabled among the vulgar, that his clouen foote could not bee changed) for his disobedience is manifest. If hee saith, Steale, and God saieth, Thou shalt not steale: Sweare, when God saith, Sweare not, dissemble, when hee cries, Woe against hypocrites: bee an vsurer, when God sayeth, thou shalt not then dwell in my glory: what pretences soeuer glosse his Text, his lamenesse cannot bee hidden. All his pollicy cannot deuise a boot to keepe him from this halting. This is the first & worst Sutour.

2 The World comes in like a blustering Captain, with more nations on his back, then crowns in his purse, or (at least) virtues in his conscience. This wooer is handsomely breasted,¹ but ill backed: better to meet, then to follow: for he is all vanity before, all vexation behind, by the witness of him that tried and knew him. Sometimes trouble follows him, but surely follows him. ^oThe desire of money is the root of all evil, which while sons coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. He is like a Bee or an Epigram, all his sting is in his tail. He is troubled with a thousand diseases, and is attended on with more plagues, then ever was Galen's study. He is now grown exceeding old, and hath but a few minutes to live. He is decayed both in stature and nature: especially he is troubled with a stooping, and a stopping, a stooping in his joints, a stopping in his lungs. He neither hath an upright face, nor a light heart.