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…

It is storied of a rich Merchant, that in a great storm at Sea, vowed to Jupiter if he would save him and his vessel, to give him a Hecatomb. The storm ceaseth, and he bethinks himself that a Hecatomb was unreasonable; he resolves on seven Oxen. Another tempest comes, and now he vows again the seven at least. Delivered then also, he thought that seven were too many, and one Ox would serve the turn. Yet another peril comes, and now he vows solemnly to fall no lower: if he might be rescued, an Ox Jupiter shall have. Again freed, the Ox sticks in his stomach, and he would fain draw his devotion to a lower rate; a Sheep was sufficient. But at last being set ashore, he thought a Sheep too much; and purposeth to carry to the Altar only a few Dates. But by the way, he eats up the Dates, and lays on the Altar only the shells. After this rate do many perform their vows. They promise whole Hecatombs in sickness; but they reduce them lower and lower still, as they grow well. He that vowed to build an Hospital; to restore an Impropriation to the Church; to lay open his inclosures, and to serve God with an honest heart: brings all at last to a poor reckoning; and thinks to please the Lord with his empty shells. There was some hope of this mans souls health, whiles his body was sick: but as his body riseth to strength, his soul falls to weakness.

It is storied of a rich Merchant, that in a great storme at Sea, vowed to Iupiter if he would saue him and his vessell, to giue him a Hecatombe. The storme ceaseth, and he bethinkes himselfe that a Hecatombe was vnreasonable; he resolues on seuen Oxen. Another tempest comes, and now hee vowes againe the seuen at least. Deliuered then also, he thought that seuen were too many, and one Oxe vvould serue the turne. Yet another perill comes, and now he vowes solemnely to fall no lower: if he might be rescued, an Oxe Iupiter shall haue. Againe freed, the Oxe stickes in his stomacke, and hee would faine dravv his deuotion to a lower rate; a Sheepe vvas sufficient. But at last being set ashore, hee thought a Sheepe too much; and purposeth to carry to the Altar onely a few Dates. But by the way, he eates vp the Dates, and layes on the Altar onely the shels. After this rate doe many performe their vowes. They promise whole Hecatombes in sickenesse; but they reduce them lower and lower still, as they grow vvell. He that vowed to build an Hospitall; to restore an Impropriation to the Church; to lay open his inclosures, and to serue God with an honest heart: brings all at last to a poore reckoning; and thinkes to please the Lord with his empty shells. There vvas some hope of this mans soules health, vvhiles his body was sicke: but as his body riseth to strength, his soule falls to vveakenesse.