Of Libertie. Chr rpower. 279 the graces ofGod in fame to come to nothing, and withdraweth many away frompara- dife,a placeof pleafure, to hell a place of torments. Youknowwho it was, that Peeing fo many young Gentlemen followEpicurusat his firlt fettingvp, faid the caufe was, it was Bonumiuue- ., young mensphilofophiethat was profefled in that fchoole. For this caufe Sachan labored] nrlez efpectally to poyfon thisage,becaufe beknoweth ifthis bebarren ofgood, thatwhichfol- youtó; lowed] is liketo be thereafter. Sachanandhis minifters haue for eueryage,eftate, and con- dition a fundriebaite : laying foryouth the baiteof pleafure,for age thebaite ofcouetouf- neffe, &c.Euery than is eaten vp with one zeale or other : there isazeal- of olde age,mid- wale tried; die age,andofyouth.Eoery manmay tryhis zealeby theninth ofEfai. verf.7.Thezeale of theLord ofhollswillperf rme this. It was the zeale ofGod that he gaue hisPanne forvs, his Molt dearelybeloued louse : it is then oneargument dourzeale tö anything, whenwe. will forgnea preciousthing, for the thing weprofeile to loue indeede. Pfau was zealous forhisrneate, whenhewouldloolehisblellingforit: and fitchis our zealeofpleafitre ,thatTóeaftire. we will forgoe learning, time, the fauour ofthegodly, health of body., yea fometimesour owneroutesfor it. 6 It had] been alwayes the noteaffableprophets to preach pleafantthings,and for out- ward matters,as thePriefts of Pczabel. And Micah, chap.:. Ipeaketh offalleProphets,that propheftecj ofmeat and ftrong drinke. Peter faith, theypraile libertie : and Paul, They can reafon forthe belly : All things (fay they) arelarrfull:but on theother fide, Gods children r.Cor.to. have been alwaycs in the wayofreftrayning,I.King. r 9.Eliah ate,andgaue ouer and fella fleepe, fo that cite Angeli was lentto bid imiti5 este snore. Itis not the fault ofmany. For we haue needeofan Angell to keepevs fromeating. Timotlrieabltained fromwine, andPaul biddethhim to vie it for theweakenelieof his Btomacke..Salomon reclaimed] young rnen Ecdef. t t .When Jobs children meane to banquet incourfe,he feared] lealtthey c urfe God. The atiftericieoftheFathers was very great concerning meats,as of Bafzland Jerome ,that it Oafrtandle- gaueoccafon to the fuperltitiousabfturence which followed. But nowthe latter times are romro solteri- gone,and the lait dayes are come. Superstition is paft, but Inca glut themfelues with all tie infoi?wg. epicuriline and pleafuresofthis life. 7 ChrrftiansareneitherStoickesnorEpicures:Pauldifputethagainflboth ,Acia7.Tbe Stoicke condenures all pleafure,theEpicure commends allpleafures. Plea(ùre is notgood accordingto our tie&ion,but inrefpel ofthe obieet : if the obieet or matter wherein our Ticafurm pleafure confided] be fmplygood, then thepleafure is fiinply good: if the obit& bePm- ,ply euill,ourpleafureis limply euill. But pleafures by naturebeing good, and badby ex- / cutuftance ; they arenot left as things indifferent Coourele&ion. CHAP. 18. Godlymeditations concerning Chriftspo aber againfiSatban, loue tothefaithfull: andhowheisour wfdome,righteouf neffe,holineffe: and ofour communion withhim. Firift careth forvs, we muff notfearea ftrongenemie, becaufewe bane aftronger Captaine. Thediuell indeede isaLyon, but fo is CEriffiraur Chrift a Lyon, and that oldie tribe ofAdak : There is a Lyon for -Liaise. a Lyon ; courage for courage. Thediuell is a frpent, fo Chrift talleth himfelfe thebrafen Serpent: there is afepent fora fer- pent; wifedome for wifedome; yeaa'ferpent of brafie,toBing all the fierreferpentsof thewildernelle But thoufaift, that Chriftis cf4.sLambe. called a Lambe and a wonne. Be not discouraged, that is in re- fpe&of his father, who found him as meeke as a Lambe, who might haue trodenon hits as on a worme : butthe diuell neuerfound hima Lambe, but a Lyon.Themeeknes of Chrifiis ltronger tbaa althepower ofhell, Ioh. r 8.Whenthediuel Bb a teemed
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