Anastatius the Emperors motto was (mellitum venenum blanda oratio) smooth talk proves often sweet Poison; Flattery is the very spring and mother of all impiety, it blows the Trumpet and draws poor souls into rebellion against God, as Sheba drew Israel to rebel against ⟨p. 183⟩David, it put our first Parents upon tasting the forbidden fruit, it put Absalom upon dethroning of his father, it put Haman upon plotting the ruin of the Jews, it put Corah, Dathan, and Abiram upon rebelling against Moses; it makes men call evil good, and good evil, darkness light, and light darkness, &c. it puts persons upon neglecting the means of Grace, upon undervaluing the means of Grace, and upon contemning the means of Grace; it puts men upon abasing God, slighting Christ, and vexing the spirit, it unmans a man, it makes him call black, white, and white black, it makes a man change Pearls for Pebbles, and Gold for Counters, 1it makes a man judge himself wise, when he is foolish; knowing, when he is ignorant; holy, when he is Profane; free, when he is a Prisoner; rich, when he is Poor; high, when he is low; full, when he is empty; happy, when he is miserable. ⟨p. 184⟩Ah! Young men, young men, take heed of Flatterers, they are the very worst of sinners, they are left of God, blinded by Satan, hardened in sin, and ripened for hell. God declares sadly against them, and that in his word, and in his works; in his word, as you may see by comparing these scriptures together, Deut. 29.18, 19, 20. Psal. 78.36 Psal. 36.1.2. Job. 17.5. Ezek. 12.24. Dan. 11.21, 32, 34. Ps. 12.2, 3. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flattering lips, and with a double heart, do they speak. 2The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things; And as God declares sadly against them in his word, so he hath declared terribly against them in his works, as you may run and read in his judgements executed upon Ahab's flattering Prophets, and upon Haman, and upon Daniels (Princely) false accusers, &c. And why then will not ⟨p. 185⟩you stop your ears against those wretches, that the hand and heart of God is so much against?
Anastatius the Emperours motto was (mellitum venenum blanda oratio) smooth talk proves often sweet Poyson; Flattery is the very spring and mother of all impiety, it blows the Trumpet and draws poor souls into rebellion against God, as Sheba drew Israel to rebel against ⟨p. 183⟩David, it put our first Parents upon tasting the forbidden fruit, it put Absolou upon dethroning of his father, it put Haman upon plotting the ruine of the Jews, it put Corah, Dathan, and Abiram upon rebelling against Moses; it makes men call evil good, and good evil, darknesse light, and light darkness, &c. it puts persons upon neglecting the means of Grace, upon undervaluing the means of Grace, and upon contemning the means of Grace; it puts men upon abasing God, slighting Christ, and vexing the spirit, it unmans a man, it makes him call black, white, and white black, it makes a man change Pearls for Pebles, and Gold for Counters, 1it makes a man judge himself wise, when hee is foolish; knowing, when hee is ignorant; holy, when hee is Prophane; free, when hee is a Prisoner; rich, when hee is Poor; high, when hee is low; full, when hee is empty; happy, when he is miserable. ⟨p. 184⟩Ah! Young men, young men, take heed of Flatterers, they are the very worst of sinners, they are left of God, blinded by Satan, hardned in sin, and ripened for hel. God declares sadly against them, and that in his word, and in his works; in his word, as you may see by comparing these scriptures together, Deut. 29.18, 19, 20. Psal. 78.36 Psal. 36.1.2. Job. 17.5. Ezek. 12.24. Dan. 11.21, 32, 34. Ps. 12.2, 3. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flattering lips, and with a double heart, do they speak. 2The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things; And as God declares sadly against them in his word, so hee hath declared terribly against them in his works, as you may runne and read in his judgements executed upon Ahabs flattering Prophets, and upon Haman, and upon Daniels (Princely) false accusers, &c. And why then will not
- 1The Flatterers told Dionysius that his spittle was as sweet as honey. Rev. 3.17, 18
- 2Karath signifies any cutting off, either by death or banishment, &c.
