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…

Let us therefore be perficientes, going and growing up, that at last we may be Perfecti, made perfecti. This is not wrought on a sudden; a child doth not presently become a man. Even the Lord Jesus had his time of growing, and can any member grow faster then the Head? Indeed the malefactor on the cross shot up in an hour; but this was miraculous, and God seldom works by such miracles. God neither sends Angels from heaven, nor the dead from hell, to give warning to men upon earth. ^gIf they ⟨p. 146⟩hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. But repentance hath the promise of a Qandocunque; whensoever a sinner repents, &c. I will not limit Gods infinite mercy; but only advise thy sick soul, who after a desperate and inveterate wound lookest for a sudden cure by repentance: it is better to make this thy diet, then thy physic. Repent every day, that thou mayest have remission one day. Melior medicus qui excludit morbos, quàm qui curat. He is a better Physician that keeps diseases off us, then he that cures them being on us. Prevention is so much better then healing, because it saves the labour of being sick. Thou allowest not a Surgeon unnecessarily to break thy head, to try his skill, and the virtue of his plaster. Springes were better taken away quae non prosunt, because they do no good: then the setting of watchmen by them to warn travellers, ne noceant; that they be not hurt by them. Take away thy lusts quite, this is the way to be sure: for repentance may be like Baal, so fast asleep that all thy cries are not able to waken her.

Let vs therefore be perficientes, going and growing vp, that at last we may be Perfecti, made perfecti. This is not wrought on a sodain; a child doth not presently become a man. Euen the Lord Iesus had his time of growing, and can any member grow faster then the Head? Indeed the malefactor on the crosse shot vp in an houre; but this was miraculous, and God seldome workes by such miracles. God neyther sends Angels from heauen, nor the dead from hell, to giue warning to men vpon earth. ^gIf they ⟨p. 146⟩heare not Moses and the Prophets, neyther will they bee perswaded though one rose from the dead. But repentance hath the promise of a Qandocunque; whensoeuer a sinner repents, &c. I will not limit Gods infinite mercy; but onely aduise thy sicke soule, who after a desperate and inueterate wound lookest for a suddaine cure by repentance: it is better to make this thy dyet, then thy physicke. Repent euery day, that thou maist haue remission one day. Melior medicus qui excludit morbos, quàm qui curat. He is a better Physician that keeps diseases off vs, then he that cures them beeing on vs. Preuention is so much better then healing, because it saues the labour of being sicke. Thou allowest not a Surgion vnnecessarily to breake thy head, to try his skill, and the vertue of his plaister. Sprindges were better taken away quae non prosunt, because they doe no good: then the setting of watchmen by them to warn trauellers, ne noceant; that they be not hurt by them. Take away thy lusts quite, this is the way to be sure: for repentance may be like Baal, so fast asleepe that all thy cryes are not able to waken her.