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 ...

For the abuse of a thing, the use is not to be taken away. [ 190]

LYcurgus (saith Plutarch) was not so well advised,* 1.1 when seeing the Lacedemo∣n••ans drink too much, and fall to drunkennesse, and so to further sin, he com∣manded to cut down their vines, and would not suffer any to grow in that Com∣monwealth: It had been better (saith he) to have digg••d Wells neer to the Vines, and so to have allayed and asswaged the strength and Licorishnesse of Wine,* 1.2 with Water. Thus it is, that certainly, if our Fonts, if our Communion-Tables, Pulpits, Seats, Temples, have been abused in time of Popery, with a multitude of supers••titious Ceremonies, and needlesse Innovations; what, shall we therefore use them ••o more? rather let us use them no more so.* 1.3 W••at, shall we therefore give them over? that were extream folly; rather let us use them better. Christ did not condemn M••ses chair for the life of a Pharisee, but preached where they had preached, though they were notorious hypocrites, though he denounced so many woes against them, as against none more; yea, though the Temple in his time were become a den of thieves, yet then and there sent he up devout and holy prayers to Heaven.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In lib. d•• audi endis Po••••is.
• * 1.2

  Mr. Wood note, ut ante••.
• * 1.3

  Propter abusum non tollendus est usus.