A01956:1733
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.
Though riches be to some pernicious; a fuming wine which turns their brains: yet to others they are a vessel, wherein they may with more speed sail to heaven: though no compass, star, or cause, to bring them thither. Others are called by David, •iri divitiarum, Men of riches: because they possess not their riches, but their riches have subjugated them. We have a kind of presage, though we conceive it not, in saying of such a one; He is a man of wealth. The speech signifies him a slave to his riches: the wealth is not the mans, but the man the wealths.
Though riches be to some pernicious; a fuming wine which turnes their braines: yet to others they are a vessell, wherein they may with more speed saile to heauen: though no compasse, starre, or cause, to bring them thether. Others are called by Dauid, •iri diuitiarum, Men of riches: because they possesse not their riches, but their riches haue subiugated them. We haue a kind of presage, though we conceiue it not, in saying of such a one; He is a man of wealth. The speach signifies him a slaue to his riches: the wealth is not the mans, but the man the wealths.
But otherwise a rich man may be a good man: for wickedness is not bound to wealthiness, as heat is to fire: and arrogance or lewdness may be incident to poverty and baseness. Pauper superbus: a poor man proud, was one of Cyprian's twelve abuses. A rotten log will yield as much saw-dust, as a piece of good timber: & a peasant ill nurtured, is also ill natured. A great gentleman will show more humble courtesy, then a thrashing hind, or a toiling ploughman. Hagar was but a Gypsy, a bondwoman yet was her excellent mistress Sarah hdespised in her eyes. As Jer•m reproved the Monks. Quid facit sub t•ica p•nitentis regimus animus? So not seldom a •sset coat shrouds as high a heart, as a silken garment. You shall have a paltry cottage send up more black smoke, then a goodly manor. It is not wealth therefore, but vice that excludes men out of heaven.