Sermon III

The Armies of Jerusalem and Babylon were set in array for Battel. On the one side the Valiant David draws forth a terrible and well-ordered Squadron of Vertues: On the other side Nebuchadonozor disposes against him the spiritual wickednesses of Babylon, a tumultuous Army of Vices. The young Novice, David, having but newly taken the military Oath to his Sovereign, girt about with the Sword of the Word of God, by the hands of the eternal David, equipped with other Spiritual Weapons, big with great thoughts, very impatient rather of making himself a great Name, than of conquering the enemy, against the Edict of the King goes forth the Camp. He had a metled Horse, his own body, still full of secular juice, lusty, fresh, wanton, and his mind proportioned; thus mounted, he's carried gallantly, and scorning the discipline of his own Tents, and contemning his Companions, out of a certain foolish presumption he marches far before the rest, swelling and panting to make himself a name. David seeing his impetuous presumption, threatens him by his Son Solomon: Wo to him that is alone; because if he fall, he has not one to help him up. Whose admonitions he lightly esteeming, when he was seeking occasions of shewing his great Vertue to himself or others, and was contriving to do some notable feat, he spies in the adverse Party, one of the enemies, of a stout malice, and a crafty wickedness, having fiery arms, and his hands full of fiery darts, wounding many, killing those he wounds, and trampling upon those he kills, easily taking Captives, and difficultly releasing them; the spirit of Fornication Here, presuming to shew an experiment of his excellent Vertue, he directs his force against him; and urging forward that his free Horse with the lashes of fasting, and the spurs of watching, he is wholly carried upon him. Prudence cries out behind; Spare, spare: Discretion cries, Hold, hold: and the whole Army of David calls out to him: all which he hearing with a deaf ear, miserable creature, he's carried headlong into his own ruine, and knows it not. Nebuchadonozor seeing him, murmurs with indignation, and meditating ill against him, sends crafty Trapans before. For he headily rushing on, two Sisters, Pride and Vainglory meet him, and fraudulently, by way of acclamation, cry out beside him; Gallantly, gallantly. To which he unfortunately being too credulous, is hurried into a precipice, and knows nothing of the ambushes which compass him on all sides. For the spirit of Fornication having now frequently experienced such assaults of such youngsters, makes a shew of flying, and provokes the miserably deluded Novice to follow her, until having brought him into the middle of Babylon, through the Gate that's ever open, she delivers him up to her Companions to be mocked at by them. Gluttony and Fornication seize upon his horse as theirs, nor do they permit his Master any longer to have any right in him. For now he began to fail; now, being weary, he sought to divert, or turn out of the way; for in the middle of the Fight he fell under his Rider, and sadly bruised him with his fall. Whom they with their Babylonian meats having refreshed, and made fat again, subjected to their services. Anger, envy, and a whole troop of other Vices rise up against the miserable creature, and Sinners confidently build upon his back. And Fornication also, the back of whom, flying away, he had only seen hitherto, now with open face, and a brazen forehead assails him, and casts her fiery darts into his heart, and draws her sword against his neck, and having thrown him down, tramples upon him, and delivers him over to the Cook of the King of Babylon, Nabuzardam, subjecting him to his impure ingurgitations to be laugh'd at; nor does she now permit honourable vices to lay hand on him, but with derision exposes him to the filthy Scullions of the King's Kitchen; that is, to foul and horrid vices. So then being now taken by the enemies, he is bound with the cords of bad custom, and precipitated into the prison of desperation. But King David covering his head, lamented, saying; O Absolon my Son, my Son Absolon. And calling a royal retainer, a tried and useful instrument in such occasions to wit, Fear; he sends him to seek him out, and commands him to take Obedience along with him, that having taken him out of Prison, he may commit him to the tuition of Obedience. Fear being sent, goes, and awakes the miserable Captive; and having freed him from his chains and prison, according as it was commanded him, delivered him up to Obedience, and also restored him his Horse, but heady and rebellious, and so as he would hardly any more acknowledg his Lord. Whom Obedience laying hold on, and curbing him with an Iron-bit, subjected him, although with very great reluctancy and recalcitration to his ancient Master, and taught him to change his strength. So Obedience having from Fear received the Souldier of Christ, leading him by another way brought him back into his own Countrey; and ordered him his first mansion with Piety, to wit, that the indulgent sweetness of his Father calling him back again, might refresh his mind angered by Fear. His second with Knowledg, that he might know whence, and whither he was to return, and that he might understand how to use both Piety and Fear; lest Piety should extol him, or Fear deject him. His third with Fortitude, which should strengthen him to perform the journey of his return. His fourth with Councel, that he may learn to do all things with the counsel of another, nor in any thing decline from the guidance of Obedience. His fifth with Understanding, that now not only by the counself of others, but also he himself may begin to understand what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. Sixthly, the Souldier of Christ came to the mansion of Wisdom, his other Hosts accompanying him, and not forsaking his journey, that now the good things of our Lord may become savoury to him, and he may henceforth with Moses, as it were from Mount Abarin, begin to contemplate the promises of God. And so now he is come into Jerusalem, into the Kingdom and City of David, into the Vision of Peace; where, blessed are the Peacemakers, the Sons of God; who, all things being pacified interiorly and exteriorly, enter into the Joy of their Lord, and Celebrate a Sabbath of Sabbaths. Amen.