The temple A sermon preached at Pauls Cross the fifth of August. 1624. By…The temple A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the fifth of August. 1624. By…

2. The Sacrilegious, to whom God is beholding, if they let his Temple stand; but for the maintenance of it, they will be so bold with him, as either to share half, or leave him none. There be many that pray in the Temple, who yet also prey on the Temple: as if a thief should do homage to that house in the day, which he means to rob in the night. But alas, why should I touch that sore which is all dead flesh? ⟨p. 13⟩or speak against Sacrilege In orb sacrilego, among them that delight in it? Where Lawyers are feed, hired, bribed to maintain Sacrilege, God and his poor Ministers may even hold their peace. Something would be spoken for Scions sake, but I take this place and time for neither the right Ubi nor Quando. We know, Abigail would not tell Nabal of his drunkenness, till he was awoke from his wine. Whensoever it shall please God to awake you from this intoxication, we may then find a season to speak to you. But God keep you from Nabals destiny; ¹that when this sin shall be objected to your Consciences on your death-beds, your hearts do not then die in you like a stone. One thing let me beg of you in the Name of him, whom you thus wrong: Howsoever you persist to rob the Temple of the due Salary, yet do not stand to justify it. By imploring mercy perhaps you may be saved, but by justifying the Injury, you cannot but be lost. As the French King, Francis the first said to a woman kneeling and crying to him for Justice; Stand up woman, for Justice I owe thee; if thou beggest any thing, beg mercy. So if you request any thing of God, let it be mercy, for he owes you Justice: and in this point, God be merciful to you all.

2. The Sacrilegious, to whom God is beholding, if they let his Temple stand; but for the maintenance of it, they will bee so bold with him, as either to share halfe, or leaue him none. There bee many that pray in the Temple, who yet also prey on the Temple: as if a thiefe should doe homage to that house in the day, which hee meanes to robbe in the night. But alas, why should I touch that sore which is all dead flesh? ⟨p. 13⟩or speake against Sacriledge In orbe sacrilego, among them that delight in it? Where Lawyers are feeed, hired, bribed to maintaine Sacriledge, God and his poore Ministers may euen hold their peace. Something would be spoken for Sions sake, but I take this place and time for neither the right Vbi nor Quando. We know, Abigail would not tell Nabal of his drunkennesse, till hee was awoke from his wine. Whensoeuer it shall please God to awake you from this intoxication, we may then find a season to speak to you. But God keepe you from Nabals destiny;