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…

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 ⟨p. 388⟩strongly retained. Our officious lies, soothing adulations, amorous wishes, wanton songs, scoffing at Ministers, censuring of Sermons; being reproved, we laugh them out. But these laughing sins, will be one day found crying sins. And if we cry not to God for mercy by repentance, they shall cry to God against us for vengeance.

When that good Prophet wept vpon Hazael, he asked; Why weepeth my Lord? He answered, Because I ¹know the euil that thou wilt doe to the children of Israel. Their strong helds wilt thou set on fire, slay their young men with the sword, dash their children against the stones, and rip vp their women with child. He replyed, What, is thy seruant a dog, that I should doe this great thing? He thought it impossible, that the deuill should euer worke him to so horrid a mischiefe. But he did it: ambition brought him to a kingdome, a kingdome brought him to tyrannie, tyrannie to insolence, insolence not onely to oppression of his owne, but to invasion of other Countreys: among which Israel felt the smart, in the burning of her Cities, and massacring her Inhabitants. Thus by degrees he was wrought to this selfe-incredited mischiefe: as impossible as at first he iudged it, at last he performed it. Doubtlesse there be some that would shudder at the temptation to periurie: yet pedetentm, by insensible steppes they arriue at it: by lying they come to swearing, by swearing to forswearing. If the Vsurer had an oppressed mans widow, and orphanes lying and crying at his dores, perhaps shame, if not remorse, would seize on him: but let him exact, inhaunce, oppresse, excoriate the Common-wealth, and not heare it in a publique clamour, he neuer wincheth for the matter. A fact that lookes at the first blush horrid and intollerable, is presently either auoided, or within some modest limits restrained: but another Dum paruum creditur, securius in vsu retinetur: the opinion of paruitie abates the opinion of prauitie: that which is weakely censured, is