A01956:1773
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.
3. By making others bad with his goods: and here we may fitly proceed to the condemnation of Bribery. aA gift blindeth the eyes of the wise. They that see furthest into the Law, and most clearly discern the causes ⟨p. 266⟩of justice, if they suffer the dusts of bribes to be thrown into their sight, their eyes will water and twinkle, and fall at last to blind connivance. It is a wretched thing, when Justice is made a Hackney, that may be backed for money, and put on with golden spurs, even to the desired journeys end of injury and iniquity.
3. By making others bad with his goods: and here we may fitly proceed to the condemnation of Bribery. aA gift blindeth the eyes of the wise. They that see furthest into the Law, and most clearly discerne the causes ⟨p. 266⟩of iustice, if they suffer the dusts of bribes to be thrown into their sight, their eyes will water and twinkle, and fall at last to blind connivence. It is a wretched thing, when Iustice is made a Hackney, that may bee back'd for money, and put on with golden spurs, euen to the desired iourneys end of iniurie and iniquitie.
If the party be innocent, let his cause be sentenced for his innocencies sake: if guilty, let not gold buy out his punishment. If the cause be doubtful, the Judge shall see it worse, when he hath blinded his eyes with Bribes. But the will of the giver doth transfer right of the gift to the receiver. No, for it is not a voluntary will. But as a man is willing to give his purse to the thief, rather then venture his life or limb: so the poor man gives his Bribes, rather then hazard his cause. Thou sayest, the thief hath no right to the purse so given: God saith, nor thou to the Bribe.