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…

Every unregenerate man Claudicat in rectis, halts in ⟨p. 372⟩the straitest path. Omnia naturalia bona polluta, omnia supernaturalia amissa; His portion of natural good is defiled; but of supernatural good all share is vanished. Peccavi, was Davids voice, after his sinful Arithmetic: the same was Judas his voice, after his damned treason. Similis sonus, non sinus; there was the same sound, but not the same heart. Esau wept as much after the loss of the blessing, as Peter after the denial of his Master: Similes lacrimae, non animae: like tears, but unlike souls. The Pharisee went to Church so well as the Publican: but the Publican came home rather justified then the Pharisee. The Pharisees threw bounteously into the Treasury: the poor widow two Mites: yet Christ commends the poorer gift, for the richer charity. That work which seems the same, In identitate operis, yet differs much Ratione agentis, in respect of the workers. Many Heathen excelled us in moral virtues, yet the ignorance of Christ did shut heaven against them. ^qVae tibi, Aristoteles: laudaris ubi non es, & damnaris ubi es: Woe to thee, O Aristotle, who art commended where thou art not, and condemned where thou art: yea even in a justified mans works, though pure from the Spirit, yet passing through his hands, there is some tang of this leaven, enough to keep them from being meritorious. Look then well both to the justification of thy person, and the sanctification of thy works. Thou indeed confessest sin to be damnable, but it would grieve thee to go to hell for thy good deeds. Though a man should give all his goods to the poor, yet wanting Faith and Love, he may for his charity go to the devil. Pray then, that thy defects may be supplied by Christ; ^rWho gave himself a sacrifice for us to God of a sweet smelling savour: perfuming us with the pleasant odour of his merits.

Euery vnregenerate man Claudicat in rectis, halts in ⟨p. 372⟩the straitest path. Omnia naturalia bona polluta, omnia supernaturalia amissa; His portion of naturall good is defiled; but of supernaturall good all share is vanished. Peccaui, was Dauids voice, after his sinfull Arithmeticke: the same was Iudas his voice, after his damned treason. Similis sonus, non sinus; there was the same sound, but not the same heart. Esau wept as much after the losse of the blessing, as Peter after the denyall of his Master: Similes lacrimae, non animae: like teares, but vnlike soules. The Pharise went to Church so well as the Publican: but the Publican came home rather iustified then the Pharise. The Pharises threw bounteously into the Treasury: the poore widow two Mites: yet Christ commends the poorer gift, for the richer charity. That worke which seemes the same, In identitate operis, yet differs much Ratione agentis, in respect of the workers. Many Heathen excelled vs in morall vertues, yet the ignorance of Christ did shut heauen against them.