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…

3. The name perhaps hath some hope of luxurious share in this abundance, and thinks to be swelled into a Colossus; over-straddling the world. Indeed here's the Centre: for I persuade my self, few worldlings can propound to themselves any well-grounded expectation of good to their souls, or help to their bodies, by their accumulation of treasures. Only in his nomen potius quàm omen quaeritur; there is more hope of a great name, then of good content. And now for the Name; what's the event? Come his riches ill, his credit is the Commons curse. Populus sibilat, the world rails at him living: and when he dyes, no man says, It is pity; but It is pity he died no sooner. They shall not lament for him, with Ah Lord, or Ah his glory. But he shall be buried with the burial of an ¹Ass; that hath lived the life of a Wolfe. His glorious Tomb erected by his enriched heir, shall be saluted with execrations: and the passengers by will say, Here lies the Devils Promoter. Come his wealth well, yet what is Credit, or how may we define a good Name? Is it to have a Pageant of cringes & faces acted to a taffeta Jacket? To be followed by a world of hang-byes; and hooted at by the reeling multitude, like a bird of Paradise, stuck full of pied feathers? To be daubed over with court-mortar, flattery; and set up as a Butte, for whores, panders, drunkards, cheaters, to shoot their commendations ⟨p. 343⟩at? To be licked with a sycophants rankling tongue; and to have poor men crouch to him, as little dogs use to a great mastiff? Is this a good name? Is this credit? Indeed these things may give him a great sound: as the clapper doth to a bell; makes it have a great sound, but the bell is hollow. They are empty gulls, whose credit is nothing else but a great noise, forced by these lewd clappers. A rich worldling is like a great Cannon, and flatterers praises are the powder that charge him; whereupon he takes fire, and makes a great report; but instantly goes off, goes out in stench. He may think himself the better, but no wise man, no good man doth: and the fame that is derived from fools, is infamy.

3. The name perhaps hath some hope of luxurious share in this abundance, and thinkes to bee swelled into a Colossus; ouer-straddling the world. Indeed here's the Center: for I perswade my self, few worldlings can propound to themselues any well-grounded expectation of good to their soules, or helpe to their bodies, by their accumulation of treasures. Onely in his nomen potius quàm omen quaeritur; there is more hope of a great name, then of good content. And now for the Name; what's the euent? Come his riches ill, his credit is the Commons curse. Populus sibilat, the world railes at him liuing: and when he dyes, no man sayes, It is pitty; but It is pitty he died no sooner. They shall not lament for him, with Ah Lord, or Ah his glory. But hee shall bee buried with the buriall of an