Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

Use II Secondly, ¹Hence think how desperately impious, wicked Wretches they are, who sin only to make others Sport; that buffoon themselves into Hell, and purchase the Pleasing others ⟨p. 18⟩with the dreadful Damnation of their own Souls: And yet, How frequent is this in the World? How many are there, that will neither spare God, nor Heaven, nor Scripture, nor Religion, nor common Modesty, if they come but in the way of a Jest? Nothing, how sacred, how venerable soever it be, can escape them, if they can but turn it into Drollery.

1. 1Shows the Wickedness of those that sin, only to tempt others to sin.Shews the Wickedness of those that sin, only to tempt others to sin.

I need not mention what Tropes and Metaphors Men have found out to talk lasciviously by; almost every one is perfect in that piece of Rhetoric: Nor what strange, monstrous Lies some will aver openly, to raise either Mirth or Wonder in Company. And that which is worst of all is, that now the Holy Bible is become a mere Jest Book with them, a Common Place ⟨p. 19⟩for Wit, and merry Discourse; and the Devil again speaks Scripture out of these Men's Mouths; they know no more of it, than what they abuse; and all their Meditations and Comments upon it, are only how such and such Passages may be ingeniously perverted, and turned into Burlesque, to heighten the Mirth of the next profane Company they meet. Impious Wretches, that dare to violate the most tremendous Mysteries of Religion, and expose their God to Scorn, his Oracles to Contempt, and their own Souls to Eternal Perdition; only for a little Grinning and Sneering of a Company of vain; yea, mad Fools, who think they commence Wits by applauding Blasphemy! But these Wits, as they are profane and impious, so they prove