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…

Thus they sow sins, as that enemy did tares, here a little, and there a little: but grown up, the whole field was overgrown with them. A sin that cannot be committed, Sine grands corruption sui, gravi laesione proximi, magno contemptu Dei: without his own notorious depravation, his brothers grievous oppression, Gods manifest contempt and provocation; this quickly amazeth a man, ⟨p. 387⟩and he starts back from the devils first offer. If the devil at first had come to Judas, here's a hundred pieces, betray thy Master: none, he was not yet hardened enough in villainy: let Satan first work him to hypocrisy, then to covetousness, and lastly he shall prevail him with him for treason too. He might refuse a hundred pieces before, now he will take thirty.

Thus they sowe sinnes, as that enemy did tares, here a little, and there a little: but growne vp, the whole fielde was ouergrowne with them. A sinne that cannot be committed, Sine grands corruptione sui, graui laesione proximi, magno contemptu Dei: without his owne notorious deprauation, his brothers greeuous oppression, Gods manifest contempt and prouocation; this quickly amazeth a man, ⟨p. 387⟩and he starts backe from the deuils first offer. If the deuill at first had come to Iudas, here's a hundred peeces, betray thy Master: none, he was not yet hardned enough in villany: let Satan first worke him to hypocrisie, then to couetousnes, and lastly hee shall preuaile him with him for treason too. Hee might refuse a hundred peeces before, now he will take thirty.

When that good Prophet wept upon Hazael, he asked; Why weepeth my Lord? He answered, Because I ¹know the evil that thou wilt do to the children of Israel. Their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, slay their young men with the sword, dash their children against the stones, and rip up their women with child. He replied, What, is thy servant a dog, that I should do this great thing? He thought it impossible, that the devil should ever work him to so horrid a mischief. But he did it: ambition brought him to a kingdom, a kingdom brought him to tyranny, tyranny to insolence, insolence not only to oppression of his own, but to invasion of other Countries: among which Israel felt the smart, in the burning of her Cities, and massacring her Inhabitants. Thus by degrees he was wrought to this self-incredited mischief: as impossible as at first he judged it, at last he performed it. Doubtless there be some that would shudder at the temptation to perjury: yet pedetentm, by insensible steppes they arrive at it: by lying they come to swearing, by swearing to forswearing. If the Usurer had an oppressed mans widow, and orphans lying and crying at his doors, perhaps shame, if not remorse, would seize on him: but let him exact, enhance, oppress, excoriate the Common-wealth, and not hear it in a public clamour, he never wincheth for the matter. A fact that looks at the first blush horrid and intolerable, is presently either avoided, or within some modest limits restrained: but another Dumb paruum creditur, securius in usu retinetur: the opinion of paruitie abates the opinion of pravity: that which is weakly censured, is