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,…

1 Atheists, such as have voluntarily, violently, extinguished to themselves, the Sun-light of the Scripture, Moon-light of the Creature; nay, the sparks and cinders of Nature, that the more securely (as unseen and unchidden of their own hearts) they might prodigally act the works of darkness; not Athenian-like, dedicating an Altar to an unknown God, but annihilating to themselves, and vili-pending to others, Altar, Religion, God; and suffocating the breath of all Motions, Arguments, manifest Convictions, that heaven & earth have produced: for the reasons of Hell only shall one day evince it (Deum esse) that there is a God: they affirm it impossible, that flesh should be turned to rottenness, rottenness to dust, and dust to glory: Against whom,¹ well, S. Augustine; He that could form us of nothing, can reform us decayed: it is easier to repair, then prepare. That Atheism in the days of Solomon was the same in opinion, that ours is in practise: we do (not say but) live, as if it was better to a living Dog, then a dead Lyon: which I would yield true among Beasts; but among men, a dead Beast is better then a living Atheist: let them ask Nature, it will tell them, (Insculptum est omnibus esse deum) It is engraven in all hearts, that there is a Deity: let them ask the Creatures, they will witness, they had a Creator: nay, let the Devil speak, to shame and convince the Atheist, who believes a God, and trembles at his own belief: the nature of his essence proveth it:² to know there is a Witch, may satisfy us, that there is a God; for if the destroying power were not controlled, manacled, ⟨image 19⟩mastered,³ how stand we undevowred? Let them ask (lastly) their own dying hearts; for the eyes that sin hath shut, Damnation shall open.

1 Atheistes, such as haue voluntarily, violently, extinguished to themselues, the Sun-light of the Scripture, Moone-light of the Creature; nay, the sparkes and cinders of Nature, that the more securely (as vnseene and vnchidden of their owne heartes) they might prodigally act the workes of darknesse; not Athenian-like, dedicating an Altar to an vnknowne God, but annihilating to themselues, and vili-pending to others, Altar, Religion, God; and suffocating the breath of all Motions, Argumentes, manifest Conuictions, that heauen & earth haue produced: for the reasons of Hell onely shall one day euince it (Deum esse) that there is a God: they affirme it impossible, that flesh should be turned to rottennesse, rottennesse to dust, and dust to glorie: Against whom,