Two sermons, of Jonahs punishmentTwo sermons, of Ionahs punishment

When I should have preached under the Cross, I mused what text to take in hand to please all, and to keep my self out of danger: and musing, I could not find any text in the Scripture that did not reprove sin, unless it were in the Apocrypha, which is not of the Scripture: this text bids them that be voluptuous be voluptuous still: let them that be vain glorious, be vain glorious still: let them that be covetous, ⟨image 26⟩be covetous still: let them that be drunkards, be drunkards still: let them that be swearers, be swearers still: let them that be wantons, be wantons still: let them that be careless prelates, be careless still: let them that be usurers, be usurers still: but saith Solomon, Remember thy end, that thou shalt be called to judgement at the last for altogether. This is the counsel of Solomon the wisest then living: what a counsel is this for a wise man, such a one as was Solomon.

WHen I should haue preached vnder the Crosse, I mused what text to take in hand to please all, and to keepe my selfe out of danger: and musing, I could not finde any text in the Scripture that did not reproue sin, vnlesse it were in the Apocrypha, which is not of the Scripture: this text bids them that be voluptuous be voluptuous still: let them that bee vaine glorious, be vaine glorious still: let them that be couetous, ⟨image 26⟩be couetous still: let them that be drunkards, be drunkards still: let them that be swearers, be swearers still: let them that be wantons, be wantons still: let them that be carelesse prelates, be carelesse still: let them that be vsurers, be vsurers still: but saith Salomon, Remember thy end, that thou shalt be called to iudgement at the last for altogether. This is the counsell of Salomon the wisest then liuing: what a counsell is this for a wise man, such a one as was Salomon.

In the beginning of his book he saith, All is vanity, and in the end he saith, Fear God and keep his Commandments: in the 12. Chapter he saith, Remember thy maker in the days of thy youth: But here he saith, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth. Here he speaketh like an Epicure, which saith, Eat, drink, and be merry: here he counsels, and here he mocks: yet not after the manner of scorners, although they deserved it in showing their foolishness, as it is in the first of the Proverbs, He laughed at the wicked in derision, as in the second Psalm, God seeing us follow our own ways. For when he bids us pray, we play: and when he bids us run, we stand still: and when he bids us fast, we feast, and send for vanities to make us sport: then he laughs at our destruction. Therefore when Solomon giveth a sharp reproof, and maketh you ashamed in a word, he scoffingly bids you do it again, like a Schoolmaster which beateth his Scholar for playing the truant, he biddeth him play the truant again. O this is the bitterest reproof of all. But least any Libertine should misconstrue Solomon, and say that he bids us be merry and make much of our selves, therefore he shutteth up with a watchword, and setteth a bridle before his lips, and reproveth it as he speaketh it before he goeth any further, and saith, But remember that for all these things thou must come to judgement. But if we will understand his meaning, he meaneth when he saith Rejoice, O young man, Repent, O young man, in thy youth; and when he saith, Let thy heart cheer thee, Let