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,…

The unmerciful Monopolies of Courtiers, the unreasonable Prices of Merchants, the hoards (if not transportation) of Grain with Cormorants, the advantages made of the poor's necessities, unconscionable sins, and Rents, wringing the last Penny from their Purses, and drop of Blood from their Hearts, (Oh durum et importabile pondus) an intolerable weight. These wretches were never able to bear it without the aid of the Devil, who, whiles they draw with him in the same yoke, is content to bear all the Burden.

The vnmercifull Monopolies of Courtiers, the vnreasonable Prices of Marchantes, the hoordes (if not transportation) of Graine with Cormorantes, the aduantages made of the poores necessities, vnconscionable sinnes, and Rentes, wringing the last Penny from their Purses, and drop of Blood from their Heartes, (Oh durum et importabile pondus) an intollerable weight. These wretches were neuer able to beare it without the ayde of the Deuill, who, whiles they draw with him in the same yoake, is content to beare all the Burden.

At last, when Presumption hath left the Stage, and Desperation begins to knit up all with a direful catastrophe, the Pulses beating slowly, the Head aching vehemently, Body and Soul refusing all proffered comfort, then the Devil castes the whole Load on them, that at once they may despair and die: then that which was lighter then Cork and Feathers, becomes heavier then Lead & Earth: God hath often strove with them by his Word; they would never yield (Avinces) Thou shalt overcome Oh Lord: Now (perhaps with Julian too late) they pant out ([…]) Thou hast overcome: Our cryings in the day, could not wake them; that cry at midnight, shall fetch them up, With the Burden of Envy, Covetousness, Drunkenness, &c. And as it was doomed to Babylon;¹ Look how much her glory and pleasure hath been give be• so much torment and sorrow. Nay, then the Devil gets up too (like a merciless lay our) with the addition of his own weight, to aggravate their woes. Strive then every one to abate the Burden of Judgement, by lessening the Burden of Sin: Every repentant Tear that falls, washeth a