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 Eye-lid is set open with the gags of Lust and Envy. A libidinous eye draws in much poison. There be eyes full of adultery, saith the Apostle. They fetch in seeds of poison from the Theatre, yea (I tremble to speak it) from the Church of GOD. It beholds beauty, (Gods rare workmanship on a piece of clay) not to bless the Creator, but to draw a curse on the creature. Like a melancholy distracted man, that drowns himself in a clear Crystal river. O such chaste Beauty is like the Bellows; though it own breath be cold, it makes them burn.

The Eye-lid is sette open with the gagges of Lust and Enuie. A libidinous eye drawes in much poyson. There be eyes full of adulterie, sayth the Apostle. They fetch in seedes of poyson from the Theater, yea (I tremble to speake it) from the Church of GOD. It beholdes beautie, (Gods rare workemanshippe on a piece of clay) not to blesse the Creator, but to draw a curse on the creature. Like a melancholy distracted man, that drownes himselfe in a cleare Chrystall riuer. O such chast Beautie is like the Bellowes; though it owne breath bee cold, it makes them burne.

There is another kind of Eye; that derives poison to the heart; the envious eye, that is vexed at the richer furniture, fatter estate, or higher honour of another: thinking his own not good, because his neighbour hath better. Any mans advancement is so capital an offence to his malice, that he could shoot out his own eyes, so they might be balls of Wild-fire to consume him. But his malice sucks up the greatest part of his own venom; and therewith poisons himself, rather then others. A man that sees him, would say, He is poisoned: for his blood looks of a yellowish colour, like those that are bitten with Vipers. His gall flows as thick in him, as if he had a poisoned stomach. If he had, as Seneca wished to the Envious, eyes in every place; his uncontainable poison would soon burst him. As he is, he would be another's enemy, but is his own mischief

There is another kinde of Eye; that deriues poyson to the heart; the enuious eye, that is vexed at the richer furniture, fatter estate, or higher honour of another: thinking his owne not good, because his neighbour hath better. Any mans aduancement is so capitall an offence to his malice, that hee coulde shoote out his owne eyes, so they might bee balles of Wild-fire to consume him. But his malice suckes vp the greatest part of his owne venime; and therewith poysons himselfe, rather then others. A man that sees him, would say, He is poysoned: for his bloud lookes of a yellowish colour, like those that are bitten with Vipers. His gall flowes as thicke in him, as if hee hadde a poysoned stomacke. If hee had, as Seneca wish'd to the Enuious, eyes in euery place; his vncontainable poyson would soone burst him. As he is, he would bee anothers enemie, but is his owne mischiefe