The Whole Works of the Right REV. Jeremy Taylor (5); With a Life of the Author and a Critical Examination of His Writings

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 Excerpt: ... rage had cooled into the temper of a man, and clammy moisture had checked the fiery emission of spirits, he wonders at his own boldness, and blames his fate, and needs a mighty patience to bear his great calamity. So is the bold and merry sinner, when he is warm with wine and lust, wounded and bleeding with the strokes of hell, he twists with the fatal arm that strikes him, and cares not; but yet itmust abate his gaiety, because he remembers that when his wounds are cold and considered, he must roar or perish, repent or do worse, that is, be miserable or undone. The Greeks call this Twv Aokkwv tucaifioviav, 'the felicity of condemned slaves feasted high in sport.' Dion Prusias reports, that when the Persians had got the victory, they would pick out the noblest slave, icai icaOtZovaiv etc rbv Spovov Tou j3affiXlfoe, icat rijv iarp'aSlSwaiv rfjv aurijv ical rpvtjqv, a 7raXXaicatc XpffaSai, 'they make him a king for three days, and clothe him with royal robes, and minister to him all the pleasure he can choose, and all the while he knows he is to die a sacrifice to mirth and folly.' But then, let it be remembered, what checks and allays of mirth the poor man starts at, when he remembers the axe and the altar where he must shortly bleed; and by this we may understand what that pleasure is, in the midst of which the man sighs deeply, when he considers what opinion he had of this sin, in the days of counsel and sober thoughts; and what reason against it, he shall feel to-morrow when he must weep or die. Thus it happens to sinners according to the saying of the prophet, "Qui sacrificant hominem, osculabuntur Vitulum," " He that gives a man in sacrifice shall kiss the calf;" that is, shall be admitted to the seventh chapel of Moloch to kiss the i...