Four sermons preachedFoure sermons preached

no saith the flesh, Talk not of such grave matters, but tell me of fine matters, of soft beds and pleasant things, and talk me of brave pastimes, Apes, Bears and Puppets, for I tell thee the forbidden fruit is sweetest of all fruits, for I do not like of your telling me of judgement: but take thou thy jewels, thy instrument, and all the strings of vanity will strike at once, for the flesh loves to be brave, and tread upon corks, it cannot tell what fashion to be of, and yet to be of the new fashion. Rejoice O young man in thy youth.

no saith the flesh, Talke not of such graue matters, but tell me of fine matters, of soft beds and pleasant things, and talke me of braue pastimes, Apes, Beares and Puppits, for I tell thee the forbidden fruite is sweetest of all fruites, for I doe not like of your telling mee of iudgement: but take thou thy iewels, thy instrument, and all the stringes of vanitie will strike at once, for the flesh loues to bee braue, and treade vpon corkes, it cannot tell what fashion to be of, and yet to be of the new fashion. Reioice O young man in thy youth.

O this goes brave, for while wickedness hath cast his rubs, and vengeance castes his spurs and his foot, and thus she reels and now she tumbles, and then she falls, therefore this progress is ended.

O this goes braue, for while wickednesse hath cast his rubs, and vengeance castes his spurres and his foote, and thus shee reeles and now shee tumbles, and then shee falles, therefore this progresse is ended.

Pleasure is but a spur, riches but a thorn, glory but a blast, beauty but a flower, sin is but an hypocrite, honey in thy mouth, and poison in thy stomach: therefore let us come again and ask of Solomon in good sooth, whether he meaneth in good earnest, when he spake these words, O (saith Solomon) it is the best life in the world to go brave, lie soft, and live merely, if there were no judgement. But this judgement mars all, it is like a damp that puts out all the light, and like a box that marreth all the ointment: for if this be true, we have spun a fair thread, that we must answer for all, that are not able to answer for one: why Solomon maketh us fools, and giveth us gauds to play withal: what then, shall we not rejoice at all? yes, there is a godly mirth and if we could hit on it, which is called, Be merry and wise: Sarah laughed, and was reproved: Abraham laughed, and was not reproved. And thus much for the first part.