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…

2. The second Bell is the Stint, or certain to all the rest; Uox Evangelij, the voice of the Gospel. This Bell of Aaron is so perpetually rung amongst us, that as a knell in a great mortalitie, (quia frequens, non terrens) so common that no man regards it. Indeed, if some particular clapper ring melodiously to the ear, we come to please that rather then the soul. Luxurient wits think the Scripture phrase gross: nothing delights them but a painted and meretricious eloquence. There are some that vvill not hear this Bell at all: like Jeroboam, they will not travel to Jerusalem for a Sermon, but content themselves with a Calf at home. Others look that the Preachers tongue should incessantly walk, but let their own hearts lie still. Thus often our Lecturer shall preach, we will give the hearing when we list. Thus many Ministers come to a Parish with their bones full of marrow, veins full of blood: but all is soon spent, and the people never the better. We ring, but you do not rise.

2. The second Bell is the Stint, or certaine to all the rest; Uox Euangelij, the voice of the Gospell. This Bell of Aaron is so perpetually rung amongst vs, that as a knell in a great mortalitie, (quia frequens, non terrens) so cōmon that no man regards it. Indeed, if some particular clapper ring melodiously to the eare, we come to please that rather then the soule. Luxurient wits thinke the Scripturephrase grosse: nothing delights them but a painted and meretricious eloquence. There are some that vvill not heare this Bell at all: like Ieroboam, they will not trauell to Ierusalem for a Sermon, but content themselues with a Calfe at home. Others looke that the Preachers tongue should incessantly walke, but let their own hearts lie still. Thus often our Lecturer shall preach, we will giue the hearing when we list. Thus many Ministers come to a Parish with their bones full of marrow, veynes full of bloud: but all is soone spent, and the people neuer the better. We ring, but you doe not rise.

3. The third Bell is the Mean; and this is Suspiria gemitusque morientium; the cries & groans of the dying. Another's Passing-bell is thy warning-bell. Death snatcheth here and there about us, thousands on our left, ten thousands on our right: yet as if we had a Supersedeas, or Protection against it, we neither relent nor repent. Our security is argued of the more madness, because we have so common motions and monitions of death. Yet Nonerimus memores esse necesse mori. How horrible is it to be drunk in a charnel house? As Christ spake, Let the dead bury the dead: So we bring to the Church dead bodies with deader souls.