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…

2. There is another disease, called the Pearl in the eye; a dangerous disease, and hereof are all worldlings sick: for earthly riches is such a pearl in their eye, that they cannot see the pearl of the Gospel, which the wise Merchant sold all he had to purchase. By distrusting and distracting cares of the world, this intellectual eye is not only depraved, but deprived of light. Affectio mundi, infectio animi: our souls are affected, infected with this contagion. We are easily inclined, and declined from our supernall bliss, by doting love of these transient delights. And ubi amor, ibi oculus: the eye follows the heart, with more diligence then a servant his Master. Now it is no wonder if that eye be blind, which the Devil hath daubed up with the dirt of this world! Covetousness is an Engrosser, wheresoever it dwells: and as it would engross the whole Universe to it unsatiate self, so it takes up the whole soul, with all the affections and desires of it. It gives every member and faculty press-money, and binds all their contention to get riches. It leaves not so much as an eye for our selves, not a thought for God. Quicquid ¹de se intrinsecus agatur oblitus est animus, dum extrinsecus occupatur. Whiles the mind is externally busied, it forgets what is done in it self, what shall become of it self. This pearl then must be cut out of the worldlings eye, with the sharp knife of repentance; otherwise he is likely never to see heaven. For it may be well said to them, as the Philosopher answered to some, that asked him curious questions of the world; whether it had a soul, whether it were round, &c. Vos de mundo solliciti estis, & vestram immunditiem non c•atis. You are busy examiners concerning ⟨p. 294⟩the world, but idle neglecters of your unclean selves. These are the Diseases: there is also a double defect in this natural Eye.

2. There is another disease, called the Pearle in the eye; a dangerous disease, and heereof are all worldlings sicke: for earthly riches is such a pearle in their eye, that they cannot see the pearle of the Gospell, which the wise Merchant sold all he had to purchase. By distrusting and distracting cares of the world, this intellectuall eye is not onely depraued, but depriued of light. Affectio mundi, infectio animi: our soules are affected, infected with this contagion. We are easily inclined, and declined from our supernall blisse, by doting loue of these transient delights. And vbi amor, ibi oculus: the eye followes the heart, with more diligence then a seruant his Master. Now it is no wonder if that eye be blinde, which the Deuill hath dawbed vp with the dirt of this world! Couetousnesse is an Ingrosser, whersoeuer it dwells: and as it would ingrosse the whole Vniuerse to it vnsatiate selfe, so it takes vp the whole soule, with all the affections and desires of it. It giues euery member and faculty presse-mony, and bindes all their contention to get riches. It leaues not so much as an eye for our selues, not a thought for God. Quicquid