FaIfe Stories, Romances, andother tempting Books. I 2 7 ter the Book of God fhould be in your hand : Its that which you mull live by and be judged by. There's much that you are yet ignorant of, which you have more need to be acquainted with then Fables. Are you not ignorant of an hundred truths that you fhould know, that God bath revealed to further sour filvation : and canyou lay them all by to read Romances ? Arc you travailing towards another world with a Play book in your hand ? 0 that you did but know what greater matters you have tomind and to do ? Do all that you have to do firh,chars of a thoufand times more worth, and weight, and need ; and then, come to me, and I will answer your Objections, what harm is k it to reada Play-book? Fith, Qaench the fire of fin and wrath tjhat is kindled in your fouls ; and fee that you underhand the aws of God, and read over thofe profitable Trearifes of Di- vines, that the world aboundetb with,and your fouls more need, and then tell me, what mind or time you have for Fables. 2. Moreover it dangeroufly bewitcheth and corruptech the minds ofyong andempty people, to read thee books. Nature, doth fo dole with them, and delight in them, that they prefent- ly breed an inordinacy of affedion, and heal away the heart from God, and his holy Word and wayes. It cannot be that the Love and delights of the heart canbe let out on fuch trafh as thefe, and not be taken off from God and the moft needful things. That is the molt dangerous thing to the foul, that works it felfdeepeft into the affedions, and is molt delighted in inflead of God. And therefore I may well conclude that Play- books,and 1-Lhory-Fables, and Romances, and fuch like, are the'very poy- fon ofyouth, the prevention of grace, the fuel of wantonnefs and Jut', and the food and work of empty,vicioustracelefs per- ions. and its great pity that they be not banifhed out of the Corn- ..., monwealth. 3 Moreover they rob menof much precious time, in which much better work might be done : much precious knowledge might be got while they are exercifcd in thefe Fables. Thole hours mutt be anfwered for : And there is not the worn: of you but then had rather be able to fay, [1 [pent thofe dayes and hoar' in prayer, and meoVtating on the Ilfe to come, and reading the Lai andGofpel ofChrifi and the Books which bi4 Servants wrote for n9j
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=