A01956:363
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 there is a fourth Rider gallops after him amain, as if he had sworn not to be hindmost, the oppressing Landlord: and he rides upon a horse that hath no pace but racking; for that is the Masters delight, racking of rents: and he hath two Lackeys or Pages run by him, Fines, and Carriages. Thus ascended, & attended, twice a year at least, he rides over the heads and hearts of the poor Tenants: that they can no more grow in wealth, then corn can that is scattered in the high way: for they as that, are continually over-ridden by their merciless Landlords. Let these riders take heed, lest the curses of the poor stumble their horses, and break their necks.
And there is a fourth Rider gallops after him amaine, as if hee had sworne not to be hindmost, the oppressing Landlord: and hee rides vpon a horse that hath no pace but racking; for that is the Masters delight, racking of rents: and he hath two Lacquays or Pages run by him, Fines, and Carriages. Thus ascended, & attended, twice a yeare at least, he rides ouer the heads and hearts of the poore Tenants: that they can no more grow in wealth, then corne can that is scattered in the high way: for they as that, are continually ouer-ridden by their mercilesse Landlords. Let these riders take heede, lest the curses of the poore stumble their horses, and breake their neckes.
The churlish Cormorant is a mischievous Rider: he sits on a black Jade, Covetousness; and rides only from market to market, to buy up grain, when he hath store to sell: and so hatcheth up dearth in a year of plenty. Our Land is too full of these riders: they repine & complain of the unseasonableness of the weather, of the barrenness of the earth: but they conceal the true cause, whereof their own souls are conscious, their uncharitableness. The earth hath never been so frozen as their consciences: nor is the ground so fruitless of plenty, as they of pity. This is not mala terra, bona gens; but mala gens, bona terra: we have bad minds, good materials. The earth hath ⟨p. 173⟩not scanted her fruits, but our concealings have been close, our enhancings ravenous, our transportations lavish. The Lord sends grain, and the devil sends garners. The imprecations of the poor shall follow these iders, and the ears of God shall attend their cries.