Listning after vanity, reproved. [ 689]
THere is a story of Demosthenes,* 1.1 who speaking to the Athenians in a very se∣rious matter, and finding them ••ot to regard his words, interrupted him∣self, and told them that he had some special thing to relate, to which he would have them fain to attend:* 1.2 whereupon silence being made, that which he told them was this; Two men (saith he) having bargained for the hire of an Ass, were travelling from Athens to Megara, in a very hot day; and both striving to enjoy the shadow of the ass, the one said, that he hired the ass, and the shadow too; the other said, that he did but hire the ass, and not the shadow; Thus leaving them as strife, Demosthenes went away; But the Athenians calling him with great eager∣ness to come back, and to end the tale: Upon his return, that which he said, was this; Oye Athenians, will ye attend unto me speaking of a ••hadow and an ass, and will ye not attend unto me speaking of most important things and affairs? Now how justly may this be the reproof of many in our dayes? such as tythe mint, annise, and cummin, and let pass the more substantial points of the Law, such as have an ear for vanity, but not for Truth; that attend to things of folly, but not to the words of Wisdom; hence it is, that Wisdom cryes out in the streets, and few regard it, but if folly once appear, there will be many auditors.