A01956:1765
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.
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.
And if this sinne lye vpon a great mans foule, hee shall finde it the heauyer, to sinke him lower into perdition. They are the Lords of great lands, yet liue vpon other mens moneys: they must riot and reuell, let the poore commoners pay for it. They haue their Protections: their bodyes shall not bee molested, and their Lands are exempted: what then, shal they escape? no, their soules shall pay for it. When the poore creditor comes to demand his owne, they raile at him, they send him loden away, but with ill words, not good money. In the Countrey they set labourers on worke, but they giue them no hire. Tut they are Tenants, vassalls: must they therefore haue no pay? Yet those very Land-lords will bate them nothing of their rents. But the riches so hadde, are not of Gods giuing, but of the Deuills lending; and hee will make them repay it a thousand fold in hell.
2. Promises are due debts, and must not be detained. If the good man promise, though to his own hurt, mhe changeth not. Indeed now Promissis dives quilibet esse potest: men are rich in promises, but they are poor in performance. More respect is had to commodity, then to honesty. Men have their evasions to disannul their promises: either they equivocate, or reserve; or being urged plead for getfullnesse. But the truth is, they have sufficient memory, but not sufficient honesty. It is said that a good name is the best riches; Qua semet amissa, postea nullus eris. But what care they for a name, so long as they save their money?