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 that which is the occasion of evil, cannot be perfectly good. Indeed that simply and of it self causeth evil, is evil it self. But that may be good, which indirectly and by consequence, in mans corrupt nature occasioneth it. The Gospel, and integrity of professing it, is not the efficient but accidental cause; or rather properly no cause, but an occasion of this feud. The bright Sun, shining on mud and filth, is said to cause stench: yet is not the Sun the true cause, but the former putrefaction of the subject reflected on, when a corrupt vapour comes into the fiery region, it is soon inflamed. Their rancorous filth had line quiet, as muck in a dunghill, had not the Sun of the Gospel, shone on it, and stirred it, now howsoever the Gospel is not the direct cause of this, yet surely the occasion. For Athens is quiet enough till Paul comes: and till Christ is borne, Jerusalem is hushed in peace. Many parishes stick not to say, we had rest and security enough before: but ⟨p. 99⟩now since preaching came in, and the Pulpits have been warmed, there is nothing but disturbation and unquietness. How else could this Text be true, that Christ came to send fire on the earth? The deluge of sin was universal, and the waters of iniquity stood untroubled, and all was a Mare mortuum: but when Christ puts fire to this water, no marvel if they wrestle. The devil stirs not till God rouse him; as the wild boar sleeps till he be hunted. Let darkness cover mens impieties, and their slumber is unmolested: produce them to the light and they cannot endure it. The ulcerous side full of dead flesh, feels not till you touch the quick. But let Elijah tell Ahab of his Idolatries, John Baptist Herod of his lusts; and then, Thou art mine enemy. The ungodly may pretend other causes, but this is the true one. The Pope refused to confirm an Archbishop ¹elect, when no insufficiency could be found against him, only because of his age: not considering, that himself being older did manage a greater place. But if the Archbishop was able to travel to Rome and back again to England, sure he was able to have sate in the Chair of Canterbury. Age was the exception; but the truth was the Archbishops honesty; that he carried not with him to Rome a golden bottle to quench the Popes thirsty soul:

But that which is the occasion of euill, cannot be perfectly good. Indeed that simplie and of it selfe causeth euill, is euill it selfe. But that may be good, which indirectly and by consequence, in mans corrupt nature occasioneth it. The Gospell, and integritie of professing it, is not the efficient but accidentall cause; or rather properly no cause, but an occasion of this feud. The bright Sun, shining on mudde and filth, is said to cause stench: yet is not the Sun the true cause, but the former putrefaction of the subiect reflected on, when a corrupt vapour comes into the firie region, it is soone enflamed. Their rancorous filth had lyne quiet, as mucke in a dunghill, had not the Sun of the Gospell, shone on it, and stirred it, now howsoeuer the Gospell is not the direct cause of this, yet surely the occasion. For Athens is quiet enough till Paul comes: and till Christ is borne, Ierusalem is husht in peace. Many parishes sticke not to say, we had rest and securitie enough before: but