WHo knowes not that Simon Peter was a Fisher ? that was his trade both by Sea and Land , if we may not rather say , that as Simon , he was a Fisherman , but , as Peter , he was a fisher of men ; He that call'd him so , made him so ; And surely his first draught of fishes , which , as Simon , he made at our Sauiours comand , might well be a true type of the first draught of men , which , as Peter , hee made in this place ; for , as then , the nets were ready to cracke , and the ship to sinke , with store ; so here , when he threw forth his first drag net of heauenly doctrine , & reproofe , three thousand soules were drawne vp at once . This text was as the sacred cord , that drew the net together ; and pull'd vp this wondrous shole of conuerts to God ; It is the summe of Saint Peters Sermon , if not at a Fast , yet at a generall humiliation , which is more and better ; ( for wherefore fast we but to be humbled ? and if wee could bee duely humbled , without fasting , it would please God a thousand times better , then to fast formally , without true humiliation ; Indeed , for the time , this was a feast , the feast of Pentecost ; but for the estate of these Iewes , it was dies cinerum , a day of contrition ; a day of deepe hunger , and thirst after righteousnesse , Men and brethren , what shall we doe ? Neither doubt I to say , that the festiuity of the season added not a little to their humiliation ; like as wee are neuer so apt to take cold , as vpon a sweat : and that winde is euer the keenest , which blowes cold out of a warm coast ; No day could be more afflictiue then an Ashwednesday , that should light vpon a solemne Pentecost ; so it was here : Euery thing answered well ; The Spirit came downe vpon them in a mighty winde ; and behold , it hath ratled their harts together ; the house shooke in the descent , and behold here , the foundations of the soule were moued ; Fiery tongues appeared , & here their brests were inflamed ; Clouen tongues ; and here their hearts were cut in sunder . The words were miraculous , because in a supernaturall , and sudden variety of language ; the matter diuine , laying before them both the truth of the Messiah , and their bloody measure offered to that Lord of life , and now Compuncti cordibus , they were pricked in their hearts . Wise Salomon sayes , The words of the wise are like goads , and nayles ; here they were so ; Goades , for they were , compuncti , pricked ; yea , but the goad could not goe so deepe , that passeth but the skin ; they were nayles , driuen into the very heart of the auditors , vp to the head ; the great Master of the Assembly , the diuine Apostle had set them home , they were pricked in their hearts . Neuer were words better bestowed . It is an happy blood-letting that saues the life , this did so here : wee looke to the signe commonly in phlebotomy , it is a signe of our idle and ignorant superstition , Saint Peter here saw the signe to be in the heart , and he strikes happily , Compuncti cordibus , they were pricked in their hearts , and said , Men and brethren , what shall we doe ?

Oh , what sweet Musick was this to the Apostles eare ? I dare say , none but heauen could afford better ; what a pleasing spectacle was this anguish of their wounded soules ? To see men come in their zealous deuotions , and lay downe their moneyes ( the price of their alienated possessions ) at those Apostolike feet , was nothing to this ; that they came in a bleeding contrition , & prostrated their penitent and humbled soules at the beautifull feet of the messengers of peace ; with Men and brethren what shall we doe ? Oh when , when shall our eyes be blessed with so happy a prospect ? How long shall wee thunder out Gods fearfull iudgements against wilfull sinners ; how long shall wee threaten the flames of hell to those impious wretches , who crucifie againe to themselues , the Lord of life , ere we can wring a sigh , or a teare from the rocks of their hearts or eyes ? Woe is me that wee may say too truely , as this Peter did of his other fishing ; Master , we haue trauailed all the night and caught nothing . Surely , it may well goe for night with vs , whiles wee labour and preuaile not . Nothing ? not a soule caught ? Lord what is becomne of the successe of thy Gospel ? Who hath beleeued our report , or to whom is the arm● of the Lord reuealed ? Oh God , thou art euer thy selfe , thy truth is eternall , hell is where it was ; if we be lesse worthy then thy first messengers ; yet what excuse is this to the besotted world , that through obdurednesse and infidelity it will needs perish ? no man will so much as say with the Iewes , What haue I done , or with Saint Peters auditors , what shall I doe ? Oh foolish sinners , shall yee liue here alwayes ; care ye not for your soules ; is there not an hell that gapes for your stubborne impenitence ? Goe on , if there bee no remedy , goe on , and dye for euer ; we are guiltlesse , God is righteous , your damnation is iust ; But , if your life bee fickle , death vnaauoydable , if an euerlasting vengrance be the necessary reward of your momentany wickednes , Oh turne , turne from your euill waies ; and in an holy distraction of your remorsed soules say , with these Iewes , Men and brethren what shall we doe ? This from the generall view of the occasion ; wee descend to a little more particularitie .

Luke , the beloued Physitian , describes Saint Peters proceeding here , much after his owne trade ; as of a true spirituall physitian ; who finding his Countrymen the Iewes in a desperate , and deadly condition , gasping for life , struggling with death , enters into a speedy and zealous course of their cure ; And first hee begins with the Chyrurgicall part ; and finding them rancke of blood , and that foule , and putrified , hee lets it out ( compuncti cordibus ) where wee might show you the incision , the veine , the lancet , the orifice , the anguish of the stroke : The incision , compuncti , they were pricked ; The veine in their hearts ; Smile not now , ye Physitians , if any heare me this day , as if I had passed a solaecisme , in telling you these men were pricked in the veine of the heart , talke you of your Cephalica , and the rest , and tel vs of another cistern from whence these tubuli sanguinis are deriued ; I tell you againe ( with an addition of more incongruities still ) that God and his diuine Physitians doe still let blood in the median veine of the hart ; The lancet is the keene and cutting reproofe of their late barbarous crucifixion of their holy and most innocent and benigne Sauiour ; The orifice , is the eare , ( when they heard this : ) what euer the locall distance bee of these parts ; spiritually , the eare is the very surface of the heart ; and whosoeuer would giue a medicinall stroke to the heart must passe it through the eare , the sense of discipline and correction : The anguish bewrayes it selfe in their passionate exclamation ; Men and brethren what shall we doe ?

There is none of these , which my speech might not well take vp , if not as an house to dwell in , yet as an Inne to rest and lodge in ; but I will not so much as bayt here ; onely wee make this a thorow fare tothose other sacred prescriptions of sauing remedies : which are three in number . The first is , euacuation of sinnes by a speedy repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; The second , the soueraigne bath or lauer of regeneration , Baptisme . The third , diet●ticall and prophylacticall receipts of wholesome caution : which I meane ( with a determinate praeterition of the rest ) to spend my houre vpon , Saue your selues from this vntoward generation . But , ere I pitch vpon this most vsefull and seasonable particularity , let mee offer to your thoughts the speedy application of these gracious remedies ; The blessed Apostle doth not let his patients languish vnder his hand in the heats and colds of hopes and feares ; but so soon as euer the word is out of their mouthes , Men and brethren , what shall we doe ? hee presently administreth these soueraigne receipts , Repent , be baptized , saue your selues . In acute diseases wise physitians will leese no time ; onely delay makes some distempers deadly . It is not for vs to let good motions freeze vnder our fingers ; How many gleeds haue dyed in their ashes , which if they had beene speedily blowne , had risen into comfortable flames ? The care of our zeale for God must be sure to take all opportunities of good ; This is the Apostles ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) seruing the time ; that is , obseruing it ; not for conformity to it when it is naught , ( fye on that basenesse , no let the declining time come to vs , vpon true and constant grounds , let not vs stoope to it , in the termes of the seruile yeeldance of Optatus his Donatists , Omnia pro tempore , nibil pro veritate ) not , I say , for conformity to it , but for aduantage of it ; The embleme teaches vs to take occasion by the forelocke , else we catch too late . The Israelites must goe forth and gather their Manna , so soone as it is faln ; if they stay but till the Sunne haue raught his noone-point , in vaine shall they seeke for that food of Angels . Saint Peter had learnt this of his Master ; when the shoale was ready , Christ sayes , Laxate retia , Luk. 5. 14. what should the net doe now in the ship ? When the fish was caught , Christ sayes , Draw vp againe , what should the net doe now in the Sea ? What should I aduise you Reuerend Fathers and brethren ( the Princes of our Israel , as the Doctors are called , Iudges 5. 9. ) to speake a word in season ; what should I presume to put into your hands , these apples of gold , with pictures of siluer ? What should I perswade you ( to these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) to wing your words with speed , when the necessity of endangered soules calls for them ? Oh let vs rowe hard whiles the tyde of grace serues ; when we see a large doore , and effectuall opened vnto vs , let vs throng in , with a peaceable and zealous importunity to be sure ; Oh let vs preach the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In season , out of season ; and carefully watch for the best aduantages of preuailing , and when the yron of mens hearts is softned by the fire of Gods Spirit , and made flexible by a meet humiliation , delay not to strike , and make a gracious impression , as Saint Peter did here Repent , bee baptized ; Saue your selues from this vntoward generation .

Now to the maine , and all-sufficient Recipe for these feeling distempers ; saue your selues . This is the very extracted quintessence of Saint Peters long Sermon ; in which alone is included and vnited the soueraigne vertue of Repentance , of Baptisme , of whatsoeuer helpe to a conuerting soule ; so as I shall not need to speake explicitely of them , whiles I enlarge my selfe to the treating of this vniuersall remedy , Saue your selues from this vntoward generation .

Would you thinke that Saint Luke hath giuen mee the diuision of this , whether Text , or , sermon of Saint Peter ? ye shall not find the like otherwhere ; here it is clearly so : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . He testifies , he exhorts ; he testifies what he thinkes of the times ; he exhorts or beseeches , ( as the Syriacke turnes it ) to auoyd their danger ; both of them , as St. Austen well , referre to this one diuine sentence : The parts whereof then , are in Saint Lukes diuision ; Peters reprehensory attestation , and his obtestation ; His reprehensory attestation to the common wickednesse , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; His obtestation of their freedome and indemnity , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Saue your selues .

To beginne with the former ; what is a generation ? what is an vntoward generation ? Either word hath some little mist about it ; The very word , generation , hath begot multiplicity of senses : without all perplexednesse of search , wee will single out the properly intended for this place ; As times , so , wee in them , are in continuall passage ; euery thing is in motion ; the Heauens do not more moue aboue our heads , in a circular reuolution , then we here on earth doe by a perpetuall alteration ; now all that are contained in one list of time , whether fixed , or vncertaine , are a generation of men ; Fixed ; so Suidas vnder-reckons it by seuen yeares ; but the ordinary rate is an hundred ; It is a cleare text , Gen. 15. 16. But in the fourth generation , they shall come hither againe ; when is that ? ( to the shame of Galatinus , who cloudes it with the fancy of the foure kinds , or manners of mans existence : ) Moses himselfe interprets it , of foure hundred yeares , vers . 13. Vncertaine ; so Salomon ; One generation passeth , another commeth ; The very terme implyes transitorinesse : It is with men , as with Raspices ; one stalk is growing , another growne vp , a third withered , & all vpon one root ; Or , as with floures , & some kinds of flyes , they grow vp , and seed , and dye ; Yee see your condition , oh ye great men of the earth , It is no staying here ; Orimur , morimur ; after the acting of a short part vpon this stage , ye must withdraw for euer ; make no other account , but , with Abraham , to serue your generation , and away ; ye can neuer more fitly heare of your mortality then now , that yee are vnder that roofe which couers the monuments of your dead , and forgotten Progenitors .

What is an vntoward generation ? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is promiscuously turned froward , peruerse , crooked ; The opposition to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is as one , what euer swarues from the right is crooked ; The Law is a right line , and what crookednesse is in nature , frowardnesse , and vntowardnesse is in moralitie . Shortly , there is a double crookednesse and vntowardnes ; One negatiue , the other , positiue ; The first , is a failing of that right we should either haue , or be ; The second , a contrary habit of vicious qualities ; and both these , are , either in credendis , or agendis ; In matter of faith , or matter of fact . The first , when wee doe not beleeue , or doe what we ought ; the second , when we mis-beleeue , or mis-liue .

The first is an vntowardnesse of omission ; the second of commission . The omissi●e vntowardnesse shall lead the way ; and that , first , in matter of beleefe . This is it whereof our Sauiour spake to the two Disciples in their warme walke to Emaus , O fooles , and slow of heart to beleeue ; whereof the proto-martyr Stephen to his auditors , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; ) The stiffe necke , the vncircumcised eare , the fat heart , the blinded eye , the obdurate soule ( quae nec mouetur precibus , nec cedit minis , as Bernard ) are wont to be the expressions of this vntowardnesse .

If these Iewes , then , after so cleare predictions of the Prophets , after so miraculous demonstrations of the diuine power of Christ ; after so many graues ransackt , dead raysed , deuils eiected , limmes and eyes new-created ; after such testimonies of the starre , Sages , Angels , God himselfe ; after such triumphes ouer death and hell , doe yet detrect to beleeue in him , and to receiue him for their Messias , most iustly are they , in this first kinde , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a froward generation ; And so is any Nation vnder heauen , that followes them in the steps of their peeuish incredulity , more or lesse ; shutting their eyes vpon the glorious light of sauing Truth ; like that sullen Tree , in the Indies , which , they say , closes it selfe against the beames of the rising Sunne , and opens onely to the dampish shades of the night ; where wee must take this rule with vs ; a rule of most iust proportion ; that the meanes of light to any Nation aggrauate the haynousnesse , and damnablenesse of their vnbeleefe : The time of that ignorance God regarded not , but now : saith Saint Paul to the Athenians , Acts 17. If I had not comne , and spoken to them , they should haue had no sinne ; saith our Sauiour , Ioh. 15. 22. Those that walke in Cimmerian , in Egyptian darkenesse , it is neither shame , nor wonder , if they either erre , or stumble ; but , for a man to stumble the Sunne in the face , or to grope by the walles at noone in the midst of Goshen , is so much more hatefull , as the occecation is more willing .

The later , which is the negatiue vntowardnesse in action , is , when any Nation failes palpably in those holy duties of Piety , Iustice , Charity , which the royall Law of their God requireth . Of this kinde are those vsuall complaints ; The feare of God is not before their eies . God looked to see if there were any that looked after God , and behold there was none ; The righteous is perished from the children of men ; Behold the teares of the oppressed , and none comforted them . The Prophets are full of these querulous notes ; there is not a page of them free ; yea hardly shall yee meet with one line of theirs , which doth not brand their Israel with this defect of holinesse .

From the negatiue , cast your eyes vpon the positiue crookednesse , or vntowardnesse ; That is , in matter of faith , the maintenance of impiety , mis-beleefe , heresie , superstition , atheisme , and what euer other intellectuall wickednesse . In matter of fact , Idolatries , profane cariage , violation of Gods dayes and ordinances ; disobediences , murders , adulteries , thefts , drunkennesse , lyes , detractions , or any other actuall rebellion against God . Behold , I haue drawne forth before you an hellish rabble of sinnes , enow to marre a world ; what euer Nation now or succession of men abounds either in these sinfull omissions , or these haynous commissions ; whether in matter of iudgement , or manners , is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an vntoward generation ; That which makes a man crooked , or vntoward , makes a generation so ; for what is a generation , but a resultance of men ? their number doth not vary their condition . But let not our zeale ( as it oft doth ) make vs vncharitable ; when a whole generation is taxed for vntowardnesse , think not that none are free , No , not one , saith the Psalmist ; by way of seruent aggrauation ; All seeke their owne , saith the Apostle ; all , in comparison : but , neuer times were so ouer growne with iniquity , as that God hath not left himselfe some gracious remainders ; when the theeuish Chaldeans and Sabeans haue done their worst , there shall be a messenger , to say I am escaped ; Neuer was haruest or vintage so curiously inned , that some gleanings were not left in the field ; some clusters among the leaues : But these few , if they may giue a blessing to the times , yet they cannot giue a style ; the denomination still followes the greater ( though the worse ) part ; let these bee neuer so good ; the generation , is , and is noted for euill . Let me therefore here commend to your better thoughts these three emergent considerations : 1. The irreparable wrong , and reproach that lewd men bring vpon the very ages and nations where they liue . 2. The difference of times , and ages , in respect of the degrees of euill . 3. The warrant of the free censure of ill-deseruing times , or Nations .

It were happy if the iniury of a wicked man could bee confiued to his owne bosome , that he only should fare the worse for his sins ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. as the Greeke rule runnes ; If it were but selfe-do , selfe-haue , as the old word is ; But as his lewdness is ( like some odious sent ) diffused through the whole roome where he is ; so it reacheth to earth and heauen ; yea to the very times and generations , vpon which he is vnhappily falne . Doubtlesse there were many worthy Saints in these very times of Saint Peter ; there was the blessed mother of Christ , the paragon of sanctity ; there was a beauye of those deuout , and holy dames that attended the doctrine , bewayled the death , and would haue embalmed the corps of our blessed Sauiour ; there were the twelue Apostles ; the seventie Disciples ; the hundred and twenty names that were met in one roome at Ierusalem , Acts 1. 25. The ●iue hundred brethren that saw Christ after his glorious and victorious resurrection ; besides those many thousands , that beleeued , through their word , in all the parts of Iudea , and Galslee , yet , for all that , the Apostle brands this with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an vntoward generation .

It is not in the vertue of a few to drowne the wickednesse of the more ; If we come into a field that hath some good plenty of corne , and some store of weeds , though it be red with poppy , or yellow with ca●locke , or blew with wild bottles or scabious , we still call it a corne field ; but , if we come into a barne-floore , and see some few graines scattered amongst an heape of chaffe , we do not call it a corne-heape , the quantity of the offall deuoures the mention of those insensible graines : Thus it is with times , and nations ; A little good is not seene amongst much ill ; A righteous Lot cannot make his City to be no Sodom ; wickednesse as it helps to corrupt , so to shame a very age . The Orator Tertullus , when hee would plead against Paul , sayes , We haue ●ound this man ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) a pestilence● Act. 24. 5. Foolish Tertullus , ●hat mistooke the Antidote for the poyson , the remedy for the disease ▪ but had S. Paul beene such ●s thy mes-prison supposed 〈◊〉 he had beene such as thy vniust 〈◊〉 now makes thy sel●e , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) the plague of thy people ▪ A 〈◊〉 he infects the world with sinne , the very age with infamy ; Malus vir malum publicum , is not a more old , then true word ; Are there then in any nation vnder heauen lewd miscreants , whose hearts are Atheists , whose tongues are blasphemers , whose bodies are ● stewes ; whose lips are nothing but a factory of close villany ; let them please themselues , and let others ( if ye will ) applaud them for their beneficiall contributions to the publike affaires , in the style of bonu● ciui● a good patriot ; as men whose parts may be vsefull to the w●●le-publike ; but , I say , such men are no better then the bane of their Country , the stayne of their age ; Turpis est pars quae suo toti ●on ●●n●e●it as G●rson well ; It is an ill member , for which all the body fares the worse : Heare this then , ye glorious sinners , that bragge of your good affections , and faithful services to your deare Country ; your hearts , your heads , your purses , your hands ( yee say ) are prest for the publike good ; yea , but are your hearts godlesse ? are your liues filthy ? let me tell you , your sinnes doe more disseruice to your nation , then your selues are worth : All your valor , wisedome , subsidiary helps cannot counterpoise one dramme of your wickednesse ; Talke what yee will ; sinne is a shame to any people , saith wise Salomon ; yee bring both a curse , and a dishonor vpon your Nation ; It may thank you for the hateful style of ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) a froward generation : This , for our first obseruation .

Neuer generation was so straight , as not to be distorted with so me powerfull sinnes , but there are differences ; and degrees in this distortion ; euen in the very first world were Giants , as Moses tells vs Gen. 6. 4. which , as our Mythologists adde , did ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) bid battle to heauen .

In the next , there were mighty hunters ; proud Babel-builders ; after them followed beastly Sodomites ; It were easie to draw downe the pedegree of euills through all times , till wee come to these last , which the holy Ghost markes out for perillous ; yet some generation is more eminently sinfull then other ; as the Sea is in perpetuall agitation , yet the Spring tydes rise higher then their fellowes ; hence Saint Peter notes this his generation with an emphasis of mischiefe ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) here is a transcendency of euill ; what age may compare with that , which hath embrued their cruell hands in the blood of the Sonne of God ? That roaring Lyon is neuer still , but there are times , wherein he rageth more , as he did and doth in the first , in the last dayes of the Gospel . The first , that he might blocke vp the way of sauing truth ; The last , for that hee knowes his time is short . There are times that are poysoned with more contagious heresies , with more remarkeable villanies , It is not my meaning to spend time in abridging the sacred Chronologies of the Church , and to deduce along the cursed successions of damnable errours from their hellish originall ; onely let me touch at the notable difference betwixt the first , and the last world ; In the first ( as Epiphanius observes ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , there was neither diuersity of opinion , nor mention of heresie , nor act of idolatry , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : onely piety , and impiety diuided the world ; wheras now , in the last ( which is the wrangling and techy dotage of the decrepit world ) here is nothing but vnquiet clashings of opinion , nothing but foule heresie , either maintained by the guilty , or imputed to the innocent , nothing but grosse idolatry in paganisme , in mis-beleeuing Christianity ; and ( woe is me that I must say it ) a coloured impiety shares too much of the rest ; My speech is glided , ere I was aware , into the third head of our discourse ; and is suddenly falne vpon the practise of that , which S. Peters example here warrants , the censure of ill deseruing times : which I must craue leaue of your honorable & Christian patience , with an holy and iust freedome , to prosecute .

It is the peeuish humour of a factious eloquence to aggrauate the euills of the times ; which , were they better then they are , would be therefore cryed down in the ordinary language of malecontented spirits , because present ; But , it is the warrantable , and necessary duty of S. Peter , and all his true Euangelicall successours , when they meet with a froward generation , to call it so .

How commonly doe we cry out of those querulous Michaiahs , that are still prophesying euill to vs , and not good ? No theme but sinnes , no sawce but vineger : Might not one of these galled Iewes of S. Peters auditory haue started vp ; and haue thus challenged him for this tartnesse ; what meanes this hard censure ? why doe you slander the time ? Salomon was a wise man , and he sayes , Say not thou , what is the cause that the former dayes were better then these ? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this : this is but a needlesse rigor ; this is but an enuious calumny : The generation were not vntoward ; if your tongue were not vncharitable . The Apostle feares none of these currish oblatrations ; but contemning all impotent mis-acceptions , calls them what he findes them , A froward generation : And well might hee doe so ; his great Master did it before him , an euill and adulterous generation ; and the harbinger of that great Master fore-ranne him in that censure , O generation of Vipers , Mat. 3. 7. and the Prophets led the same way to him in euerie page . And why doenot we follow Peter in the same steppes wherein Peter followed Christ , and Christ his fore-runner , and his fore-runner the Prophets ? Who should tell the times of their sinnes , if wee be silent ? Pardon me , I beseech you , most noble , reuerend , and beloued hearers ; necessity is layd vpon me ; in this day of our publique mourning , I may not be as a man in whose mouth is no reproofes . Oh let vs bee thankfull for our blessings , wherein , through the mercy of God , we outstrip all the nations vnder heauen ; but withall , let vs bewaile our sinnes , which are so much more grieuous , because ours . Would to God it were no lesse vniust , then vnpleasing to complaine of this as an vntoward generation ; There be ●oure things that are wont both to make vp and euince the prauity of any generation ; ( woe is mee that they are too apparently met in this ) multitude of sinnes , magnitude of sinnes , boldnesse of sinne , impunity of sinning ; Take a short view of them all : you shall see that the multitude is such , as that it hath couered the earth ; the magnitude such , as hath reacht to heauen ; the boldnesse such as out-faceth the Gospel , the impunity such as frustrates the wholsome lawes vnder which we liue .

For the multitude , where is the man that makes true conscience of any the Lawes of his God ? and if euery man violate all the lawes of God , what do all put together ? our forefathers sinnes were but as drops , ours are as torrents . Instance in some few ; Cannot we our selues remember , since a debaucht Drunkard was an Owle among birds , a beast of men , a monster of beasts ; abhorred of men , shouted at by children ? Is this sight now any newes to vs ? Is not euery Tauern a stye of such swine ? Is not euery street indented with their shamefull staggerings ? Is there not now as much spent in wanton smoake , as our honest forefathers spent in substantiall hospitality ?

Cannot we remember , since oathes were so geason , and vncouth , that their sound startled the hearer , as amazed at the strange language of treason against the God of heauen ▪ now they fill euery mouth , and beat euery ea●e in a neglected familiarity ? What shold I tell you of the ouergrowne frequence of oppressions , extortions , iniurious and fraudulent transactions , malitious suites ; the neighbour walls of this famous adioyning Pallace can too amply witnesse this truth , whose roofe if ( as they say ) it will admit of no Spiders , I am sure , the floore of it yeelds venome enough ▪ to poyson a Kingdome : What should I tell you of the sensible declination to our once loathed superstitions ; of the common trade of contemptuous dis-obediences to lawfull authority , the scornefull vnderualuing of Gods messengers ; the ordinary neglect of his sacred ordinances ; what speake I of these and thousands more ? There are Arithmeticians that haue taken vpon them to count how many cornes of sand would make vp the bulke of heauen and earth ; but no Art can reckon vp the multitude of our prouoking sinnes .

Neither doe they more exceed in number , then magnitude ; Can there be a greater sinne then Idolatry ? Is not this ( besides all the rest ) the sinne of the present Romish generation ? One of their owne confesses ( as he well may ) that were not the bread transubstantiate , their Idolatry were more grosse , then the heathenish ; loe , nothing excuses them but an impossible figment ▪ Know , O yee poore , ignorant seduced soules , that the bread can bee no more turned into God ; then God can be turned into bread , into nothing ; the very omnipotent power of God barres these impious contradictions . My heart trembles therfore and bleeds to thinke of your highest , your holiest devotions . Can there be a greater sinne then robbing of God ? This is done by our sacrilegious Patrons : Can there bee a greater sinne then tearing God out of heauen with our bloody and blasphemous oathes ; then the affamishing of soules by a wilfull , or lazie silence ; then rending in peeces the bowels of our deare Mother the Church , by our headstrong , and friuolous dissentions ; then furious murders ; then affronts of authority ? These , these are those huge mountaines which our Gyantlike presumption roles vpon each other , to war against heauen .

Neither are the sinnes of men more great , then audacious ; yea it is their impudency that makes them hainous ; bashfull offences rise not to extremity of euill ; The sinnes of excesse as they are opera tenebrarum , so they had wont to bee night-workes , They that are drunken are drunke in the night , saith the Apostle ; now , they dare , with Absaloms beastlinesse , call the Sun to record : Saint Bernard tells vs of a Daemon meridianus , a noone-Deuill , out of the vulgar mis-translation of the 90. Psalme ; Surely , that ill spirit walkes about busily , and haunts the licentious conuersation of inordinate men .