A01956:1764
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.
What shall we then say of their goods, that break, and defraud others? Come they from Gods hand, or from the devils? Surely Satan's right hand gave them, not Gods Left. Haec mea sunt, sayth the Devil: meae divitie, mei divites. These are mind, my riches, and my rich men. O that men would see this damnable sin! me thinks their terrified consciences should fear, that the bread they eat should choke them; for it is stolen; and stolen bread fills the belly of gravel. They should fear the drink they swallow should poison them; being the very blood of good householders, mixed with the tears of widows and orphans. The poor creditor is often undone, and glad of bread ⟨p. 263⟩and water: whiles they like hogs lurking in their sties, fat and lard their ribs with the fruit of others labours. They rob the husband of his inheritance, the wife of her dowry, the children of their portions: the curse of whole families is against them.
What shall we then say of their goods, that breake, and defraud others? Come they from Gods hand, or from the deuills? Surely Satans right hand gaue them, not Gods Left. Haec mea sunt, sayth the Deuill: meae diuitie, mei diuites. These are mind, my riches, and my rich men. O that men would see this damnable sinne! mee thinkes their terrified consciences should feare, that the bread they eate should choake them; for it is stolne; and stolne bread fills the belly of grauell. They should feare the drinke they swallow should poyson them; being the very bloud of good housholders, mixed with the teares of widowes and orphanes. The poore creditor is often vndone, and glad of bread ⟨p. 263⟩and water: whiles they like hogges lurking in their styes, fatte and lard their ribbes with the fruite of others labours. They robbe the husband of his inheritance, the wife of her dowry, the children of their portions: the curse of whole families is against them.
And if this sin lye upon a great mans foul, he shall find it the heavier, to sink him lower into perdition. They are the Lords of great lands, yet live upon other mens moneys: they must riot and revel, let the poor commoners pay for it. They have their Protections: their bodies shall not be molested, and their Lands are exempted: what then, shall they escape? no, their souls shall pay for it. When the poor creditor comes to demand his own, they rail at him, they send him laden away, but with ill words, not good money. In the Country they set labourers on work, but they give them no hire. Tut they are Tenants, vassals: must they therefore have no pay? Yet those very Land-lords will bate them nothing of their rents. But the riches so had, are not of Gods giving, but of the Devils lending; and he will make them repay it a thousand fold in hell.