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 ...

[ 899] Blasphemous language condemned.

CAto being very much struck in years,* 1.1 would by all means study the Greek tongue, and being asked by one, Why in his old age he would set upon such an exo∣tick language; O (said he) I am informed that the Greek is a copious and fluent tongue, and withall, such a tongue as the Gods speak in; I would therefore learn it, that I may be able to converse with the Gods in their own Dialect:* 1.2 This was Catoes conceit in those darker times of Nature; but there is a generation amongst us in these clearer times of Grace, Ranters, Roaring boyes, such as are great proficients in all manner of blasphemous language, such as belch out nothing but oathes, and direful execrati∣ons, in the very face of Heaven; What can this else be, but to practise here on Earth, what by a sad Prolepsis they are sure to come to hereafter, that is, to be roar∣ing boyes and girls in Hell to all eternity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  T. Fullers Serm. at St. Clem. Lond. 1647.
• * 1.2

  Non minus pec∣••ant, qui blas∣phemant Chri∣stum regnantem in coelis, quàm qui crucif••xe∣runt ambulan∣tem in terris. August.