The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…

But when the wicked shall rise again, would it not serve them still with all their hearts? Had they not rather lie in rottenness then combustion? Were not a cold grave more welcome, then a hot furnace? Yes; rather had they be dead without sense, then alive in torment. Now they beg not a city, though a little one as Zoar: not a house, though poor and bleak as Codrus his: not an open air, though sharp and irksome; scorched with the Indian Sun, or frozen with the Russian cold: there is no hope of these favours. Give them but a mountain to fall on them, and a rock to hide them, and they are highly pleased. Here is a strange alteration for the wicked; When they shall go from a glorious mansion to a loathsome dungeon: from the table of surfeit to the table of vengeance: from fawning observants to afflicting spirits: from a bed of down to ⟨p. 46⟩a bed of fire: from soft linen and silken coverings, to wish a rock for their pillow, and a mountain for their coverlet. Nay, and yet they that commanded so far on earth, cannot command this piece of earth, to do them such a kindness. They could in the days of their pride speak imperiously enough; this land is mine, this town is mine: as Naball said, Shall I take my meat and my drink &c. but now they feel, it was none of theirs; not one hole must shelter them, not one hillock do them service.

But when the wicked shall rise againe, would it not serue them still with all their hearts? Had they not rather lie in rottennesse then combustion? Were not a cold graue more welcome, then a hote furnace? Yes; rather had they be dead without sense, then aliue in torment. Now they beg not a cittie, though a little one as Zoar: not a house, though poore and bleake as Codrus his: not an open ayre, though sharpe and irkesome; scorched with the Indian Sunne, or frossen with the Russian cold: there is no hope of these fauours. Giue them but a mountaine to fall on them, and a rocke to hide them, and they are highly pleased. Here is a strange alteration for the wicked; When they shall goe from a glorious mansion to a loathsome dungeon: from the table of surfet to the table of vengeance: from fawning obseruants to afflicting spirits: from a bed of downe to ⟨p. 46⟩a bed of fire: from soft linnen and silken couerings, to wish a rocke for their pillow, and a mountaine for their couerlet. Nay, and yet they that commanded so farre on earth, cannot command this peece of earth, to doe them such a kindnesse. They could in the dayes of their pride speake imperiously enough; this land is mine, this towne is mine: as Naball sayd, Shall I take my meate and my drinke &c. but nowe they feele, it was none of theirs; not one hole must shelter them, not one hillocke doe them seruice.