Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Sixthly, In order to the effectual suppression of profaneness it cannot but be owned as absolutely necessary, to watch diligently and deal severely with the Nurseries of it. For as our Lord Jesus, who is the King ⟨image 175⟩of Zion & Saints, hath his Schools & Nurseries for the instructing & training up of persons in sound knowledge & true holiness. Such are the assemblies and congregations of his people, Isa. 2.3. Come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the Mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways. So Satan, the Prince of the power of the air, the Spirit that worketh in the Children of disobedience, hath his Nurseries, which he fills with cursed Temptations, and his Instruments with Venomous examples, in order to the alluring of men to flagitious courses, and rendering them expert, ready and complete Artists in sin. And do not all men see how our youths are tainted and corrupted there, and how many of those that once were hopeful and thought to be plants of righteousness have been there blasted, and turned into the degenerate plants of a strange Vine, bringing forth the Grapes of Sodom and the Clusters of Gomorrah? All that read these lines may easily understand my meaning, what houses they are at which I now point. And I would ask, Are Stews and Brothel-houses fit to be suffered among us? I have not at all wondered, when I have read and heard, how many of them are allowed in Rome, that Mother of Harlots, who holds in her hand a Cup of fornication; we must expect the great Whore will not fall out with the little Ones, specially when they are profitable to her. Bonus odor lucri ex re qualibet. In her Nostrils the money smells well, come it from whence it will. But it is an arrant shame that any of them should be found in a Land of Light, in a Nation of Protestants, in a City of righteousness, in a place where that Religion is profest and established▪ that condemns all such filthy practices. And as for Ale-houses and Victualling houses, though some of them, possibly▪ are useful, yea and necessary, yet is there need of such multitudes, in which so many sit many hours together fuddling, and drinking away their money, their wits, their health and their Souls, while their poor Wives sit at home mourning, and their Children crying, and perhaps all of them wanting and ready to starve?