The Apostle calleth a covetous person an Idolater,1 not because he causeth an Idol to be made and set up, that be might adore and worship the same: but because he serveth Mammon, and who so serveth Mammon, cannot serve God, and who so serveth his riches, when they should serve him, is an Idolater. In like sort, who so leaveth the service of God, to serve his dancing, & who so taketh more delight in the strength of his legs, agility, and ⟨image 7⟩nimbleness of his joints, then in the Gospel of Christ: let the Apostles sentence-judge what he is, and for my part, I say nothing, but that such abuse hath been amongst us. Notwithstanding, if a Christian once creak against these works of the flesh, and with as gentle words & mild means, as possible he may devise, seek to suppress them: When as the very Heathens reprehend it with sharp terms, accounting the users thereof wanton, unhonest, unchaste, unsober, mad, & worthy great reproach: And when the faithful fathers going somewhat rounder to work, call it devilish, with other like phrases, as appeareth in the Tract following: with cheese colours, when these men blaze these abuses: if now a days, I say, one do but cypher, he is sure straight ways to be assayed with the Pharisees weapons: either with over curious reasons of mans device, impertinent and wrested places of Scriptures, frivolous and fruitless questions: or if these prevail not, then with injurious and unjust slanders: first for the first sort, to touch only those, either unremembered, or as it is more likely not at all uttered in mine Authors days, ⟨image 7⟩or at least those, which he not upon want of knowledge, but upon hope he had wrote enough (as in deed enough for any reasonable man) wittingly (as it seemeth) omitted. To touch these I say, their chiefest arguments they would fain fetch from the examples of the godly men and virtuous women. How say ye (say they) by Jephthah's deer Daughter?2 met not she her Father with Timbrels & dances? by the noble Judith? led not she the dance her self? by the pitiful father? had not be melody, and dancing in his house, for joy his dead son was revived? these you cannot deny were virtuous people, and these their doings virtuous. But good it is, yea, our bounden duty it is, to follow the footings of our Forefathers in their virtuous actions:
The Apostle calleth a couetous person an Idolater,1 not because he causeth an Idoll to be made and set vp, that bée might adore and worship the same: but because he serueth Mammon, and who so serueth Mammon, cannot serue God, and who so serueth his ryches, whē they should serue him, is an Idolater. In lyke sorte, who so leaueth the seruice of God, to serue his dauncing, & who so taketh more delyght in the strength of his legges, agilitie, and ⟨image 7⟩nimblenesse of his ioyntes, then in the Gospel of Christ: let the Apostles sentēce-iudge what he is, and for my parte, I say nothing, but that such abuse hath béene amongst vs. Notwithstanding, if a Christian once creke against these workes of the flesh, and with as gentle wordes & mylde meanes, as possible he may deuise, séeke to suppresse them: Whē as the very Heathens reprehend it with sharpe tearmes, accoumpting the vsers therof wāton, vnhonest, vnchaste, vnsober, madde, & worthy great reproche: And when the faithful fathers going somwhat rounder to work, call it deuyllish, with other lyke phrases, as appeareth in the Tracte following: with chese colours, when these men blase these abuses: if nowe a dayes, I saye, one doo but cypher, he is sure strayght wayes to be assayed with the Pharisées weapōs: eyther with ouer curious reasons of mās deuyce, impertinent and wrested places of Scriptures, friuolous and fruitlesse questions: or if these preuayle not, then with iniurious and vniust sclanders: first for the first sorte, to touch onely those, eyther vnremēbred, or as it is more lykely not at all vttered in mine Aucthors daies, ⟨image 7⟩or at least those, which he not vpon want of knowledge, but vpō hope he had wrote inough (as in déede inough for any reasonable man) wyttinglye (as it séemeth) omytted. To touch these I say, their chiefest argumentes they would faine fetche from the examples of the godly men and vertuous women. How say ye (say they) by Iepthes déere Daughter?2 mett not shée her Father with Tymbrelles & daunces? by the noble Iudith? ledde not she ye daunce her selfe? by the pittyfull father? had not be melodie, and daunceing in his house, for ioye his dead sonne was reuiued? these you cannot deny were vertuous people, and these theyr doings vertuous. But good it is, yea, our bounden duety it is, to follow the footings of our Forefathers in theyr vertuous actions:
- 1Ephe. 5.5.
- 2Judg. 11.34 Jud. 15.12. Luk. 15.25Iudg. 11.34 Iud. 15.12. Luk. 15.25
