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…

Arise; let us now raise up our selves from corruption of soul, that we may one day be raised from corruption of body; They that will not rise, their souls must, ⟨p. 413⟩must, and carry their bodies to judgement. This world was made for man, not man for this world: therefore they take a wrong course that lye down there. He that lies down when he should arise and go, shall rise and go, when he would lie down. He that sleeps in the cradle of security all his life, sins soundly without starting: when he once starts and wakes, he must never sleep again. The devil and mischief are ever watching: and shall man, whom they watch to hurt, sleep? He that would deceive the devil, had need to rise betimes. The Lyon is said to sleep with one eye open, the Hare with both: the worldling with both eyes of his soul shut. He never riseth till he goes to bed: his soul wakens not, till his body falls asleep on his death-bed: then perhaps he looks up. As sometimes they that have been blind many years, at the approaching of death have seen: (whereof Physicians give many reasons) so the death-bed opens the eyes of the soul. Indeed at that time there is possibility of waking, but hazard of rising. That poor winter-fruit will hardly relish with God. Miserum incipete vivere, cum definendum est. It is wretched for a man then to begin his life, when he must end it. It is at the best but morosa et morbosa panitentia; a wearish and sick repentance: whereas God requires a ^fquick and lively sacrifice; this is as sick as the person that makes it. This indeed is not a Conversion, but a Reversion, or mere refuse.

Arise; let vs now raise vp our selues from corruption of soule, that we may one day be raised from corruption of body; They that will not rise, their soules must, ⟨p. 413⟩must, and carry their bodies to iudgement. This vvorld was made for man, not man for this world: therfore they take a wrong course that lye downe there. He that lyes downe when he should arise and goe, shall rise and goe, when he would lie downe. He that sleepes in the cradle of securitie all his life, sinnes soundly without starting: when he once starts and wakes, he must neuer sleepe againe. The deuill and mischiefe are euer watching: and shal man, whom they watch to hurt, sleepe? Hee that would deceiue the deuill, had need to rise betimes. The Lyon is said to sleepe with one eye open, the Hare vvith both: the worldling with both eyes of his soule shut. He neuer riseth till he goes to bed: his soule wakens not, till his body falls asleepe on his death-bed: then perhaps he lookes vp. As sometimes they that haue been blind many yeeres, at the approching of death haue seene: (whereof Physicians giue many reasons) so the death-bed opens the eyes of the soule. Indeed at that time there is possibilitie of waking, but hazard of rising. That poore winter-fruit wil hardly rellish with God. Miserum incipete viuere, cum definendum est. It is wretched for a man then to begin his life, when hee must end it. It is at the best but morosa et morbosa panitentia; a wearish and sick repentance: wheras God requires a