What joy soever we have else, if we think upon judgement, then we say unto our mirth, thou art madness, Ecclesiast.1 chap. 2. The second kind of joys, Chrysostom calleth petty joys: Hilary termeth them the solace of prisoners, who eat and drink for a while, but shortly the judge cometh and condemneth them, and they are executed. This Solomon called bitter sweet joys, Proverbs 14. 13. This is certain, every one will have the one or the other: if they cannot get Penelope, they will be suitors to her maidens: these be seeming joys, and we think2 them to be great, because we know no better. For if we knew the joys of the righteous, we would laugh at these vain joys. It is noted in Cain, after he had lost his place in Heaven, he got him as good a place in earth as he could. Jubal he found out organs to make his Grandfather merry. What is it then unlawful? I will tell you what the Fathers said concerning it: The believer can never find time for laughter. Hilary saith, that whatsoever we love in the world, we take thereby occasion of laughter in prison; and this is frenzy. If these men lived now, they would be accounted precise fools, Storks, blocks without affections, for these be the opprobrious speeches which the wicked use against good men: but if any man can rejoice in Psalms and spiritual songs, if he can find an honey-comb in the word, and with David can dance before the Lord; God forbid, that I, or any should play Michol to mock him. Nay, I will say with Moses, I would all the Lords people were as these be: and took pleasure in these things, for thus we ought to be, and I will say with Paul, would to God you would practise these things which I teach But where the Spirit is carnal (as Bernard saith) where there is a mouldy soul, a dry heart, where the Spirit is turned3 into flesh, there men love these petty joys, and bitter sweets. But yet (not to foster any mans imperfections) the Church hath children of perfect age, she had babes, yea, even such as are in their lump like the Bears whelp, we cannot come from Beersheba to4 ⟨p. 726⟩Bethel at one step. These actions in themselves are not unlawful, but ••fles are for babes which the Church beareth with, until God provide better for us, not commanded but permitted, as Paul, when he was a child, spake as a child, and we are all in the estate of children, 1. King. 11.
What ioy soeūer we haue else, if we thinke vpon iudgement, then wee say vnto our mirth, thou art madnes, Ecclesiast.1 chap. 2. The second kinde of ioyes, Chrysostome calleth pettie ioyes: Hilarie termeth them the solace of prisoners, who eate and drinke for a while, but shortely the iudge commeth and condemneth them, and they are executed. This Salomon called bitter sweete ioyes, Prouerbes 14. 13. This is certaine, euery one will haue the one or the other: if they cannot get Penelo•e, they will be suiters to her maidens: these bee seeming ioyes, and wee thinke2 them to be great, because we know no better. For if wee knewe the ioyes of the righteous, we would laugh at these vaine ioyes. It is noted in Cain, after hee had lost his place in Heauen, he got him as good a place in earth as he could. Iubal hee found out organs to make his Grandfather merrie. What is it then vnlawfull? I will tell you what the Fathers saide concerning it: The beleeuer can neuer finde time for laughter. Hilary saith, that whatsoeuer we loue in the world, we take thereby occasion of laughter in prison; and this is phrensie. If these men liued now, they would be accounted precise fooles, Storkes, blockes without affections, for these be the opprobrious speeches which the wicked vse against good men: but if any man can reioyce in Psalmes and spiritual songs, if he can find an hony-combe in the word, and with Dauid can dāce before the Lord; God forbid, that I, or anie should play Michol to mocke him. Nay, I will say with Moses, I would all the Lords people were as these bee: and tooke pleasure in these things, for thus wee ought to be, and I will say with Paul, would to God you would practise these things which I teach But where the Spirit is carnal (as Bernard saith) where there is a mouldie soule, a drie heart, where the Spirit is turned3 into flesh, there men loue these pettie ioyes, and bitter sweetes. But yet (not to foster any mans imperfections) the Church hath childrē of perfect age, shee had babes, yea, euen such as are in their lumpe like the Beares whelpe, wee cannot come from Beersheba to4 ⟨p. 726⟩Bethel at one step. These actions in themselues are not vnlawfull, but ••fles are for babes which the Church beareth with, vntil God prouide better sor vs, not commanded but permitted, as Paul, when he was a childe, spake as a childe, and wee are all in the estate of children,
- 1The second kind of joys Petty joys Bitter sweet joys.The second kinde of ioyes Petti• ioyes Bitter sweet ioyes.
- 2Seeming joys.Seeming ioyes.
- 3A mouldy soul, and a dry heart.A mouldie soule, and a drie heart.
- 4Simile.
