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…

But the rich man hath a fire, when the poor sits cold: the rich an harbour, attendance, and delicate provision, when the poor wants both house and home, meat and money, garments and company. For though riches gather many friends; the poor is separated from his neighbours. ¹No part of my Sermon hath denied, but the competency of these earthly things is a blessing: neither dare I infer, that the want of these is a curse; for the best have wanted them, not the Saviour of men himself excepted. But what is this to abundance? Is not he as warm that goes in russet, as another that rustles and ruffles in his silks? Hath not the poor labourer as sound a sleep on his flock-bed, or pad of straw, as the Epicure on his down-bed, with his rich curtains and coverings? Doth not Quiet lye oftener in Cottages, then in glorious manors? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to ²sleep. And for a good appetite, we see the toiling servant feed savourly of one homely dish, when his surfeited master looks loathingly on his far-fetched, and dear-bought dainties: sitting down to his second meal in a ⟨p. 342⟩quandary whether he should eat of his best dish or nothing: his stomach being such a coward, that it dares not fight with a chicken. This Gentleman envies the happiness of his poor Hind, and would be content to change states with him, upon condition he might change stomachs. It is not then the plenitude, but competency of these things, that affords even the rich content. So that a mans estate should be like his garment, rather fit then long: for too much troubles him; and the satiety of these earthly riches doth rather kill, then conserve the Body.

But the rich man hath a fire, when the poore sits cold: the rich an harbour, attendance, and delicate prouision, when the poore wants both house and home, meate and money, garments and company. For though riches gather many friends; the poore is separated from his neighbors. ¹No part of my Sermon hath denied, but the competency of these earthly things is a blessing: neyther dare I infer, that the want of these is a curse; for the best haue wanted them, not the Sauiour of men himselfe excepted. But what is this to aboundance? Is not he as warme that goes in russet, as another that russles and ruffles in his silkes? Hath not the poore labourer as sound a sleepe on his flocke-bed, or pad of straw, as the Epicure on his downebed, with his rich curtaines and couerings? Doth not Quiet lye oftner in Cottages, then in glorious mannors? The sleepe of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the aboundance of the rich will not suffer him to