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. But what shall we say to the Estate? Evils to that are poverty, hunger, thirst, weariness, servility: We hope wealth can stop the invasion of these miseries. Nothing less: it rather mounts a man, as a Wrestler does his combatant, that it may give him the greater fall. Riches are but a shield of Wax, against a sword of power. The larger state, the fairest mark for misfortune to shoot at. Eagles catch not after flies: nor will the Hercules of ambition lift up his club, but against these Giants. There is not in poverty that matter, for a Great mans covetous fire to work upon. If Naboth had had no Vineyard to prejudice the command of Ahab's Lordship, he had saved both his peace and life. Violent winds blow through a hollow willow, or over a poor shrub, and let them stand: whiles they rend a pieces Oaks and great Cedars, that oppose their great bodies to the furious blasts. The tempests of oppressing power meddle not with the contemptible quiet of poor Labourers, but shake up rich men by the very roots; that their blasted fortunes may be fit timber for their own building. Who stands so like an eye-sore in the tyrannous •ight of Ambition, as the wealthy? Imprisonment, restraint, banishment, confiscation, fining, and confining are Greatness's Intelligencers; instruments and stairs to climb up by into rich mens possessions. Wealth hath four hindrances from doing good to the State.

3. But what shall we say to the Estate? Euills to that are pouertie, hunger, thirst, wearinesse, seruillitie: Wee hope wealth can stop the invasion of these miseries. Nothing lesse: it rather mounts a man, as a Wrastler does his combatant, that it may giue him the greater fall. Riches are but a sheeld of Waxe, against a sword of power. The larger state, the fairest marke for misfortune to shoote at. Eagles catch not after flies: nor will the Hercules of ambition lift vp his clubbe, but against these Giants. There is not in pouertie that matter, for a Great mans couetous fire to worke vpon. If Naboth had had no Vineyard to preiudice the command of Ahabs Lordship, hee had saued both his peace and life. Violent winds blow through a hollow willow, or ouer a poore shrubbe, and let them stand: whiles they rend a peeces Oaks and great Cedars, that oppose their great bodies to the furious blasts. The tempests of oppressing power meddle not with the contemptible quiet of poore Labourers, but shake vp rich men by the very rootes; that their blasted fortunes may be fit timber for their owne building. Who stands so like an eye-sore in the tyrannous •ight of Ambition, as the wealthy? Imprisonment, restraint, banishment, confiscation, fining, and confining are Greatnesses Intelligencers; instruments and staires to climbe vp by into rich mens possessions. Wealth hath foure hindrances from dooing good to the State.