Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1088] Sin, of a destructive nature.

VVHen Nicephorus Phocas had built a mighty strong wall about his Palace for his own security,* 1.1 in the night time he heard a voyce, crying out unto him,* 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. O Emperour, though thou buildest thy wall as high as the Clouds, yet if sinne be within, it will o••erthrow all. And most true it is, that all sinne is of a destr••ctive nature; What though our Nation be in as good a posture as heart can wish, out Navy ready, our Ports and Block-houses well fortified, our Coasts guarded,* 1.3 all our Beacons wa••ched, all our Castles repaired, all our Men arm∣ed and our Land environed with a wall of Iron about it, yet if sinne be within, if Bribery, Oppression, self-interest, ••atred, malice, &c. be in the midst of us, like those Traytors in the Trojan horse, any one of them will do more hurt in one night, then ten thousand open Enemies in ten years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ced••••ni An∣nales.
• * 1.2

  Felix crimini∣bus nullus erit diu Ausoni••s.
• * 1.3

  Jos. Shute Ser. Anno 1630.