Yea, of Angels, Si quae sint Angelorum linguae, Jeron. If at least the Angels have any language. Yet if we have not charity, we are as sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal. Like Balaam's Ass, that spake to better her master, not her self. Or the Sermon-bell that rings others to Church, while it self still hangs in the steeple, and hears nothing. Though we had the gift of prophecy; so Balaam, Saul, Caiaphas prophesied; yet wanting Charity; the first loved gold more than God: the second, his lusts more than his obedience: the last condemned JESUS CHRIST. Though we had all knowledge, yet wanting Charity; we might like the Pharisees, open the door for others, and not go in our selves. Without Charity we are nothing; nothing In esse Gratiae, how great soever In esse Naturae, Aquin. Yea, though we gave our bodies to be burned; though we not only speak but suffer; not do, but die. Of all sufferings death is the most terrible, of all deaths, Burning. Now Si tradidero, If I give; not by compulsion, but of mine own accord; as it is said of CHRIST; Tradidit seipsum, Ephes. 5.2. He gave himself. Si tradidero corpus, If I give my Body: not only suffer loss of goods, and that is much;h To take joyfully the spoiling of our goods: but calamities in our body; as the father of lies spake truly in this: Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath, will he give for his life, Job 2.4. Si tradidero corpus Meum, if I give My body: not my child's body, as Abraham offered Isaac's, not only flesh of my flesh, but flesh that is my Flesh. Si tradidero morti; If I give my body to Death, not only to pain and passion. Yea, not to a natural death, this law must pass upon all men; but to a violent death. Lastly, to a death so violent, ⟨p. 151⟩that there is not a greater torment; to be roasted and consumed in the fire; to be burned. Here be many acts of patience, of Piety; yet if we hate our brother, all is lost. Therefore Stephen, when he died for godliness, forgot not brotherly kindness. iLord lay not this sin to their charge. As if the want of this would discredit the cause, or endanger the reward. So did other Martyrs, fetching this example from the Head: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do, Luk. 23.34. Thus necessary is this connection:k he that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness still.
Yea, of Angels, Si quae sint Angelorum linguae, Ieron. If at least the Angels have any language. Yet if we have not charitie, we are as sounding Brasse or a tinkling Cymball. Like Balaams Asse, that spake to better her master, not her selfe. Or the Sermon-bell that rings others to Church, while it selfe still hangs in the steeple, and heares nothing. Though we had the gift of prophecie; so Balaam, Saul, Caiaphas prophecied; yet wanting Charity; the first loved gold more than God: the second, his lusts more than his obedience: the last condemned IESUS CHRIST. Though we had all knowledge, yet wanting Charity; wee might like the Pharisies, open the doore for others, and not goe in our selves. Without Charity we are nothing; nothing In esse Gratiae, how great soever In esse Naturae, Aquin. Yea, though we gave our bodies to be burned; though we not onely speake but suffer; not doe, but die. Of all sufferings death is the most terrible, of all deaths, Burning. Now Si tradidero, If I give; not by compulsion, but of mine owne accord; as it is said of CHRIST; Tradidit seipsum, Ephes. 5.2. Hee gave himselfe. Si tradidero corpus, If I give my Body: not onely suffer losse of goods, and that is much;h To take joyfully the spoiling of our goods: but calamities in our bodie; as the father of lies spake truely in this: Skinne for skinne, yea, all that a man hath, will hee give for his life, Iob 2.4. Si tradidero corpus Meum, if I give My body: not my childes bodie, as Abraham offered Isaac's, not onely flesh of my flesh, but flesh that is my Flesh. Si tradidero morti; If I give my body to Death, not onely to paine and passion. Yea, not to a naturall death, this law must passe upon all men; but to a violent death. Lastly, to a death so violent, ⟨p. 151⟩that there is not a greater torment; to be rosted and consumed in the fire; to be burned. Here be many acts of patience, of Pietie; yet if we hate our brother, all is lost. Therefore Stephen, when he died for godlinesse, forgot not brotherly kindnesse. iLord lay not this sinne to their charge. As if the want of this would discredit the cause, or endanger the reward. So did other Martyrs, fetching this example from the Head: Father forgive them, for they know not what they doe, Luk. 23.34. Thus necessary is this connexion:k
- hHeb. 10.34.
- iAct. 7.60.
- k1 Joh. 2.9.1 Ioh. 2.9.
