Use. 2 I must end, but gladly would I win a soul: If the reward be so great (as you know it) to recover a sick body, 1which for all that must die, of what reward is that cure to save a soul, which must ever, ever live? O sweet Jesus▪ why sheddest thou the most precious and warmest blood of thy heart, but only to save souls? thou wast scourged, buffeted, judged, condemned, hanged; was all this for us? and shall we do nothing for our selves? What is it thou wouldest have bad, if thou couldest wish it good? not thy house, nor thy wife, nor thy children, nor thy good, nor thy clothes, but no matter for thy soul; I beseech you, value not you souls at a less price then your shoes; you can please the flesh with delicates, which is naught but worms meat; but the soul pines for want, which is a creature invisible, incorporeal, immortal, most like to God: are we thus careful of pelf, and so careless of this pearl? certainly, I cannot choose but wonder, when seeing the streets peopled with men that follow suits, run to Courts, attend and wait on their Councillors for this case, and that case, this house, or that land, that not one of these, no nor one of all us will ride, or run or creep, or go to have counsel for his soul: I must confess, I have sometimes dwelt on this meditation: and (Beloved, let me speak homely to you) be our Counsellors in this Town, every week solicited by their Clients? and have we no Clients in soul-cases? not one that will come to us with their cases of conscience? sure you are either careless of your souls, or belike you have no need of particular instructions: O let us not be so forward for the world, and so backward for the soul! yet I pray mistake not; I invite you not for fees, as noble Terentius, when he had petitioned for the Christians, and saw it torn in pieces before his face, gathered up the pieces, and said, I have my reward; I have not sued for gold, silver, honour, or pleasure, ⟨p. 72⟩but a Church: so say I, in middest of your neglect; I have not sued for your good, or silver, for your houses, or lands, but for your souls, your precious souls: and if I cannot, or shall not woe them to come to Christ, God raise up some child of the Bride-chamber which may do it better; if neither I, nor any other can prevail, O then fear that speech of Eli's sons, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them:
Ʋse. 2 I must end, but gladly would I win a soul: If the reward be so great (as you know it) to recover a sick body, 1which for all that must die, of what reward is that cure to save a soul, which must ever, ever live? O sweet Jesu▪ why sheddest thou the most precious and warmest bloud of thy heart, but onely to save souls? thou wast scourged, buffetted, judged, condemned, hanged; was all this for us? and shall we do nothing for our selves? What is it thou wouldest have bad, if thou couldest wish it good? not thy house, nor thy wife, nor thy children, nor thy good, nor thy cloaths, but no matter for thy soul; I beseech you, value not you souls at a less price then your shooes; you can please the flesh with delicates, which is naught but worms meat; but the soul pines for want, which is a creature invisible, incorporeall, immortall, most like to God: are we thus carefull of pelf, and so careless of this pearl? certainly, I cannot choose but wonder, when seeing the streets peopled with men that follow suits, run to Courts, attend and wait on their Councellors for this case, and that case, this house, or that land, that not one of these, no nor one of all us will ride, or run or creep, or go to have counsell for his soul: I must confess, I have sometimes dwelt on this meditation: and (Beloved, let me speak homely to you) be our Counsellors in this Town, every week solicited by their Clients? and have we no Clients in soul-cases? not one that will come to us with their cases of conscience? sure you are either careless of your souls, or belike you have no need of particular instructions: O let us not be so forward for the world, and so backward for the soul! yet I pray mistake not; I invite you not for fees, as noble Terentius, when he had petitioned for the Christians, and saw it torn in pieces before his face, gathered up the pieces, and said, I have my reward; I have not sued for gold, silver, honour, or pleasure, ⟨p. 72⟩but a Church: so say I, in middest of your neglect; I have not sued for your good, or silver, for your houses, or lands, but for your souls, your precious souls: and if I cannot, or shall not woe them to come to Christ, God raise up some child of the Bride-chamber which may do it better; if neither I, nor any other can prevail, O then fear that speech of Elies sons, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them:
- 1Si magnae mercedis est a morte eripere carnem, quanti est meriti à morte liberare animam. Ambros. Offic. 1. Quid est quod velis habere malum? nihil omnino: Aug. in quod. serm.
