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 ...

Custome in Sin hardly broken off. [ 1375]

THere is an Apologue, how four things meeting, boasted their incomparable strength:* 1.1 The Oake, a Stone, Wine, and Custome. The Oke stood stoutly to it, but a blast of wind came and made it bow, the Axe felled it quite down. Great is the strength of Stones, yet gutta cavat, a continual dropping wears them away, and a hammer beats them to pieces. Wine overthrowes Gyants and strong Men, Senators and Wise Men, et quid non pocula possunt? yet sleep over∣comes

Wine. But Custome, invicta manet, remains unconquered: Hence it was, that the Cretians, when they cursed their Enemies, did not wish their houses on fire, not a sword at their hearts, but that which in time would bring on greater woes,* 1.2 that mala consuetudine delectentur, they might be delighted with an ill Custome; And to say truth, Custome in Sin is hardly broken off; When Vices are made manners,* 1.3 the disease is made incurable; When through long trading and Custome in Sin, neither Ministery nor misery, nor miracle, nor Mercy, can possibly reclaim; a Man may very truly write on that Soul, Lord have mercy on it:* 1.4 For Custome is not another nurture, but another Nature, and what becomes Natural, is not easily reduced; It is the principall Magistrate of Mans life, the guide of his actions, and as we have inured our selves at the first setting out in this World, so commonly we go on, unlesse we be turned by Mi∣racle, and changed by that which is onely able to do it, the Grace of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Laurent. Ab∣stemii My∣tholog.
• * 1.2

  —Laqu•••• te∣net ambitiosi Consuetudo mali.
• * 1.3

  Juvenal.
• * 1.4

  Nath. Shute Serm. at S. Mildred Poultry, Lond. 1627.