The gallants burden A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, the twenty nine of March,…The gallants burden A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, the twentie nine of March,…

2. It is no less to them that must suffer it: the Judgements of God are heavy on whomsoever they light: a ⟨p. 5⟩Millstone bound to the sinner, & thrown with him into the Sea, will not sooner sink him to the bottom, then these bound to the soul, will sink it to the depth of depths;¹ therefore Christ says, B•tter a Millstone, because lighter. The wrath of the Lamb, at the consummation of the world, is acknowledged more heavy then Rocks and Mountains;² and happy were it for those reprobates, if such intolerable pressures could dissolve them into emptiness: These on the body are more sensible, on the soul more miserable. In the infancy of the world, Gods blows were most outward; in this ripe (or rather rotten) age of it, they are most inward & spiritual: We have no Bears to devour the Mockers; no fiery Serpents to strike the Murmurers: Gods punishments reach most to the Conscience: (T•••plex circa prae••••a ferrum,) a sensual and senseless heart without apprehension of Gods incensed anger, (Cor nuliis violabile telis) not made of penetrable stuff: if Gods finger touch the body, we groan under the weight; let his whole hand lie on the soul, we feel nothing: If this be not our Burden & Misery, what is? Like curious Visitors, will ye not believe this age to labour of this Sickness, (unless you behold some Symptoms? Let your eyes take notice (and that not without grief of soul) the deadness of heart among us: We ply the World hard, dally with Religion: We serve God in jest; our selves, with all respect & earnest: Our Devotions are like Winter, frosty, misty, & windy of many natures, none other then cold: Nothing arms, charms, and confirms our senses with attention, spirits with intention, active powers with contention, but vanity. Are not the Benches in Taverns, and Theatres, often well replenished, when these Seats are thin and almost empty? Are not the Allies in this Temple often fuller of Walkers, then the Quire of Petitioners? Conference with profane ostentation of Clothes; perhaps plots of mischief, as frequent, ⟨image 8⟩as suits to God: (making it little less then a den of Thieves:) If men stumble into the Church, as company, custom, recreation, or (perchance) sleep invites many, they feed their eyes with vanities; if any drops he admitted into their ears, they are entertained under the nature of conceits: