A01956:1322
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…
The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ hath endowed her considered in some contemplations upon part of the 12. chapter of the Hebrews : together with certain other meditations and discourses upon other portions of Holy Scriptures, the titles whereof immediately precede the book : being the sum of diverse sermons preached in S. Gregory's London / by Thomas Adams ...The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ hath endowed her considered in some contemplations vpon part of the 12. chapter of the Hebrewes : together with certain other meditations and discourses vpon other portions of Holy Scriptures, the titles wherof immediately precede the booke : being the summe of diuerse sermons preached in S. Gregories London / by Thomas Adams ...
London: printed by G.P. for John Grismand, 1619London: printed by G.P. for Iohn Grismand, 1619
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In the reign of Hen. 3. The Pope required the tenths of all the moveables in England, Ireland, & Wales: and 1because he feared, that such moneys could not be speedily enough collected, he sent over many usurers into the land, which were then called Caursini: who would lend money to those of the Clergy that wanted, but on so unreasonable extortion, that the debtors were still beggared. So that what by his violent exaction, & subtle circumvention by his own usurers (for all they had was the Popes money) he desired only the tenth part, but he got away also the other 9. And indeed the Pope had reason to maintain usury, for usury maintained the ⟨p. 120⟩Pope. Neither is this infection bounded up with that Bishop, but dissipated among all his Clergy. Not so much as the very Mendicant Fryers, that profess wilful poverty, but have a wilful desire to be rich. They have more holiness in their hands, then in their hearts: their hands touch no money, their hearts covet it. But the great Belphegor sometimes gives them a purge. Whereupon said W. Swinderby; If the Pope may take from the 2Fryers to make them keep Saint Frances rule; why may not the Emperor take from the Pope, to make him keep Christs rule? But whosoever gets, the poor Laity looseth all. There was a book called Poenitentiarius Asini, The Asses Confessor; wherein is mentioned this Fable. The wolf, the fox, and the ass come to shrift together, to do penance. The wolf confesseth himself to the fox, who easily absolveth him. The fox doth the like to the wolf, and receiveth the like favour. After this the ass comes to confession, and his fault was, that being hungry he had taken out one straw from the sheaf of a Pilgrim to Rome; whereof he was heartily repentant. But this would not serve, the law was executed severely upon him, he was slain and devoured. By the wolf is meant the Pope: by the fox his Cardinals, Jesuits, Priests: these quickly absolve one another, how heinous ever their offences were. But when the poor Ass, that's the Laity, comes to shrift, though his offence be not the weight and worth of a straw; yet on his back must the law be severely executed; and the holy Father the wolf makes a great matter of it. Immensum scelus est, iniuria quam peregrin•, Fecesti, stramen surripiendo sibi.