§. 18. Others think it rather taken from the usual practise of Chapmen in the view and choice of their wares. A wise and wary Chapman that hath to do with a deceitful Merchant, Draper, or other, one that keepeth his wares in obscure places where the defects of them cannot so easily be discerned, or hath false lights that may help to give a counterfeit gloss to them, he will take no ware of him upon his word, but he will first diligently view it, toss it and turn it to and fro over and over, try how it is in the middest as well as at both ends, bring it forth into the light, hold up his cloth against the sun, see if he can espy any defect or default in it; he knoweth well he may easily else be over-reached. The like should be our practise, because our case is alike. We have to deal daily with divers crafty Merchants; rby whom we are sure to be oft cozened, be we never so careful, and can never therefore take heed enough how we deal with the•. There is first the Devil, for his slyness and subtlety termed sa Serpent, for his experience and antiquity styled an told Serpent: one that, ulike a deceitful Draper (saith one,) to draw men on unto sin, showeth them the present pleasure or profit of sin as the one end of the cloth, but concealeth and keepeth out of sight the middle and the other end of it in the internal remorse here, and the eternal punishment hereafter. Then there is the world, which our selves are wont to say is wholly set upon deceit, and the Spirit of God saith xis wholly set upon sin: of whom we may well say as one sometime ⟨p. 25⟩of an Historian, yBoth the words and the shows of it are all full of fraud. Yea there is lastly our own Heart as fraudulent and deceitful as any of them. For, zThe heart of man, saith Jeremiah, is wicked and deceitful above all things: who can know it? So deceitful, that oft-times ait deceiveth a mans own self, and so consequently bit self.
§. 18. Others thinke it rather taken from the vsuall practise of Chapmen in the view and choise of their wares. A wise and wary Chapman that hath to doe with a deceitfull Merchant, Draper, or other, one that keepeth his wares in obscure places where the defects of them cannot so easily be discerned, or hath false lights that may helpe to giue a counterfeit glosse to them, he will take no ware of him vpon his word, but hee will first diligently view it, tosse it and turne it to and fro ouer and ouer, try how it is in the middest as well as at both ends, bring it forth into the light, hold vp his cloth against the sunne, see if he can espie any defect or default in it; hee knoweth well hee may easily else bee ouer-reached. The like should bee our practise, because our case is alike. Wee haue to deale daily with diuers craftie Merchants; rby whom wee are sure to bee oft cozened, bee wee neuer so carefull, and can neuer therefore take heede enough how we deale with the•. There is first the Deuill, for his slienesse and subtiltie tearmed sa Serpent, for his experience and antiquity stiled an told Serpent: one that, ulike a deceitfull Draper (saith one,) to draw men on vnto sinne, sheweth them the present pleasure or profit of sinne as the one end of the cloth, but concealeth and keepeth out of sight the middle and the other end of it in the internall remorse here, and the eternall punishment hereafter. Then there is the world, which our selues are wont to say is wholly set vpon deceit, and the Spirit of God saith xis wholly set vpon sin: of whom we may well say as one sometime ⟨p. 25⟩of an Historian, yBoth the words and the shewes of it are all full of fraud. Yea there is lastly our owne Heart as fraudulent and deceitfull as any of them. For, zThe heart of man, saith Ieremie, is wicked and deceitfull aboue all things: who can know it? So deceitfull, that oft-times a
- rQui cavet ne decipiatur, vix cavet, quum etiam cavet: Etiam quum cavisse ratus est, saepe is cautor captus est. Plaut Capt. 2. 2.Qui cauet ne decipiatur, vix cauet, quum etiam cauet: Etiam quum cauisse ratus est, saepe is cautor captꝰ est. Plaut Capt. 2. 2.
- sGenes. 3. 1. 2 Cor. 11. 3.
- tApoc. 12. 9.
- uSicut Mercator de falso pan•o non •stendit empteri medium neque finem, sed caput tant•: sic Diabolus qui est mercator peccati, •stendit fatuo peccatori solum caput pa•ni, i. delectationem culpae, non medium, i. remorsum conscientia, vel finem, i. poenam gehennae. Bon•uent. dicta salut. c. 2.Sicut Mercator de falso pan•o non •stendit empteri medium neque finem, sed caput tant•: sic Diabolus qui est mercator peccati, •stendit fatuo peccatori solum caput pa•ni, i. delectationem culpae, nō medium, i. remorsum conscientia, vel finem, i. poenam gehennae. Bon•uent. di•ta salut. c. 2.
- x1 John 5. 19. [Greek or Hebrew].1 Iohn 5. 19. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- y[Greek or Hebrew]. Plutarch. de Herodoto.
