Two sermons, of Jonahs punishmentTwo sermons, of Ionahs punishment

And how hard is it to avoid sin, when occasion is at hand, and pleasant opportunity tempteth to sin? it is easier for the bird to go by the net, then to break the net: so it is easier for a man to avoid temptations, then to overcome temptations: therefore GOD forbade Balaam, not only to curse the people as Balak would have him, but he forbade him to go with Balaks servants, knowing that if he went with them, and saw the ⟨image 55⟩pomp of the Court, and heard the King himself speak unto him, and felt the tickling reward, it would strain his conscience, and make him doubt whether he should curse or bless.

And how hard is it to auoid sinne, when occasion is at hand, and pleasant opportunitie tempteth to sinne? it is easier for the bird to goe by the net, then to breake the net: so it is easier for a man to auoide temptations, then to ouercome temptations: therefore GOD forbad Balaam, not onely to curse the people as Balak would haue him, but hee forbad him to goe with Balaks seruants, knowing that if he went with them, and saw the ⟨image 55⟩pompe of the Court, and heard the King himselfe speake vnto him, and felt the tickling reward, it would straine his conscience, and make him doubt whether hee should curse or blesse.

Peter but warming himself at Caiaphas fire, was overcome by a silly Damsel to do that which he never thought, even to forswear his Lord God: therefore Daniel would not eat of the kings meat, least he should be tempted to the kings will, showing us that there is no way to escape sin, but to avoid occasion. Therefore David prayeth, Turn away mine eyes from vanity: as though his eyes would draw his heart, as the bait tilleth on the hook. Noah thought to drink, he thought not to be drunk: but as he which cometh to the field to sound the trumpet, as slain as soon as he which cometh to fight: so the same wine distempereth Noah, which hath distempered so many since. Where he thought to take his reward, and taste the fruit of his own hands, God set an everlasting blot upon him, which sticks fast till this day, like a bar in his arms, so long as the name of Noah is spoken of, that we cannot read of his virtue, but we must read of his sin: whereby every man is warned to receive the gifts of God reverently, to use them soberly, and to sanctify himself, before he reach forth his hand unto them, that they may comfort and profit us, with that secret blessing which God hath hid in them: or else everything, the best gifts of God may hurt us, as the pleasant wine stained and confounded the great Patriarch, when he delighted too much in it, which he might have drunk as Christ did at his last supper, and this disgrace had never been written in his story: but GOD would have a fearful example like the pillar of salt, to stand before those beasts, whose only strife is to make trial, who can quaff deepest and show all their valiantness in wine.