Phil. You have spoken most truly, and also showed it out of the Scriptures, that the contempt of the Gospel is a most heinous sin: yet for all that, it is most lamentable to consider, how little men esteem it, and how light they make of ⟨p. 138⟩it. Many regard it no more then an egg-shell, they think it not worth a galley half-penny: they will not go to the door to hear it; they take it to be a breath from us, and a sound to them, and so the matter is ended. They esteem it but as a noise, or empty sound in the air; or as a voice a far off, which a man understandeth not: they never felt the power of it in their hearts. Therefore they prefer their sheep, their farms, their oxen, their profits, their pleasures, yea every thing before it; they know it not to be any such precious jewel, as it is. Although our Lord Jesus himself compare it to a hid treasure, and a most precious pearl, yet these filthy swine of the world tread it under feet: for they know not the price of it. Though Solomon the wise, 1saith, All the merchandise of gold and silver, pearl and precious stones, are not to be compared to it: yet these beasts, these dogs and hogs of the world, contemn it: They esteem a cow more then Christs most glorious Gospel. They are like Aesop's cock, which made more account of a barley corn, then all the precious stones in the world: they are like little children, that esteem their rattle more then a bag of gold; they are like the Gadarenes, which esteemed their hogs more then Christ and his Gospel: they ⟨p. 139⟩make nothing of it: they think it not worth the while. Many of them sit idle in the streets, even upon the Sabbaths: while the Gospel is preached in their Churches, many are at cards and tables in the Ale-houses. Many on the Sabbath sleep upon their beds all the Sermon while in the afternoon. Many will hear a Sermon in the forenoon, and they take that to be as much as God can require at their hands, and that he is somewhat beholden to them for it; but as for the afternoon, they will hear none: then they will to bowls or tables. These men serve God in the forenoon, and the devil in the afternoon. Some run after whores and harlots on the Sabbath, some run to dancing and bear-baitings, some sit upon their stalls, some sit in their shops, some by the fire side, some sit idle in the streets, some go to the stole-ball, and others look on.
Phil. You have spoken most truly, and also shewed it out of the Scriptures, that the contempt of the Gospel is a most hainous sinne: yet for all that, it is most lamentable to consider, how little men esteeme it, and how light they make of ⟨p. 138⟩it. Many regard it no more then an egge-shell, they thinke it not worth a galley halfe-penny: they will not goe to the doore to heare it; they take it to bee a breath from us, and a sound to them, and so the matter is ended. They esteeme it but as a noise, or empty sound in the aire; or as a voice a farre off, which a man understandeth not: they never felt the power of it in their hearts. Therefore they preferre their sheep, their farmes, their oxen, their profits, their pleasures, yea every thing before it; they know it not to bee any such precious jewell, as it is. Although our Lord Jesus himselfe compare it to a hid treasure, and a most precious pearle, yet these filthy swine of the world tread it under feet: for they know not the price of it. Though Solomon the wise, 1saith, All the merchandise of gold and silver, pearle and precious stones, are not to bee compared to it: yet these beasts, these dogs and hogs of the world, contemne it: They esteeme a cow more then Christs most glorious Gospel. They are like Esops cocke, which made more account of a barley corne, then all the precious stones in the world: they are like little children, that esteeme their rattle more then a bagge of gold; they are like the Gadarens, which esteemed their hogs more then Christ and his Gospel: they ⟨p. 139⟩make nothing of it: they thinke it not worth the while. Many of them sit idle in the streets, even upon the Sabbaths: while the Gospel is preached in their Churches, many are at cards and tables in the Ale-houses. Many on the Sabbath sleep upon their beds all the Sermon while in the afternoon. Many will heare a Sermon in the forenoon, and they take that to be as much as God can require at their hands, and that hee is somewhat beholden to them for it; but as for the afternoon, they will heare none: then they will to bowls or tables. These men serve God in the forenoon, and the devill in the afternoon. Some runne after whores and harlots on the Sabbath, some runne to dancing and bear-baitings, some sit upon their stalls, some sit in their shops, some by the fire side, some sit idle in the streets, some goe to the stole-ball, and others look on.
- 1Prov. 3.
