Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

r a 5 o That thefe earthly things abufed become fnares veto vs. we haue them let our hearts vpon them. All which notwith_. (landing the moll men, both worldlings, and profeffors of' religion,are chokedwith thefe thornes,and intangled with thefe [tares, being mooed with thcfc baites to doe many things againll their knowledge and confcience,either for the getting or keeping of them. In which refpe6l Augu/line dcfcribeth riches thus : That they are a coil] danger,ro thole whopofffe them; an mill mailer, and a treacherous lemon; birdlime veto our fpirituall wings, fathers offlatterie,tonnes of griefe and care; a naafi offeare to chafe that haue them, and of griefe tothefe that want them. 4.Se17.6 Neither are thofe tentations which are grounded vpon Tbat tentations pleafures leffe dangerous , they being commonly made grounded vpon through our abufe,fweete poyfons which kill with delight, plealaes, are and pleafant fongs which lull vs afleepe in the cradle of fe- very dangerous. curitie to our perdition and detlruClion. Forwhen a man is glutted with them,how exceedingly doth lice forget him - felfe and all good duties ? and'how prone and headlong is he vnto all vice and wickedneffe ? there being nothing fo bad which he doth not thinke well befeemes him, when his Ecclef.z.z. vnderllanding is difiraughted with this merrie madnefíe, nothing fo foolifh and ridiculous at which he blufheth and is atharned. But uwe would take a liuely view ofthofewho abound in worldly pleafitres,and fee vnto what lewd licen- ciouf tes they bring all thole who are glutted with them; let vs confider of that notable defcription of the houle ofplea- lure, which by one no leffe wittily then trulyis thus defci- Ambrofde phered : The hall (faith he) ofpleafuregloriouflygliffered with Cain & Abel, l(ingly frsperfluitse,orfumptuom furníture,and with curious in- lib.t.cap.4. grauen walles,andthefiowre did fwimme}bith wine; theground fineiled fweetely ofodorrferotu ointments, cowered làith the bones ofdaintie fafhes, and flipperie withflowers, now reedit, to wither. There was a tumult of boon companions, a clamorous noire of wranglers, the [laughter of needleffe contenders and brablers. t.24ufscall mirth and harmonie of thefe that [upped together, the noife of dancers; load laughter of thole dehich were madly merrie, flouting and clapping hands of licencious wantons, all things confuted and nothingin natural! order. There was to bee lean