No cross, no crown : $b a discourse shewing the nature and discipline of the holy cross of ChristPenn, William
Religion
No cross, no crown : $b a discourse shewing the nature and discipline of the holy cross of Christ
Penn, William
Christian life; Christian life -- Quaker authors; Self-denial -- Early works to 1800
III. Were the pleasures of the age true and solid, Adam and Eve
had been miserable in their innocency, who knew them not: but
as it was once their happiness, not to know them in any degree;
so it is theirs, that know Christ indeed, to be by his eternal
power redeemed and raised to the love of immortality: which is yet
a mystery to those who live and have pleasure in their curious
trims, rich and changeable apparel, nicety of dress, invention and
imitation of fashions, costly attire, mincing gaits, wanton looks,
romances, plays, treats, balls, feasts, and the like conversation
in request: for as these had never been, if man had staid at home
with his Creator, and given the entire exercise of his mind to the
noble ends of his creation; so certain it is, that the use of these
vanities, is not only a sign that men and women are yet ignorant
of their true rest and pleasure, but it greatly obstructs and
hinders the retirement of their minds, and their serious inquiry
after those things that are eternal. O that there should be so much
noise, clutter, invention, traffic, curiosity, diligence, pains, and
vast expense of time and estate, to please and gratify poor vain
mortality! And that the soul, the very image of divinity itself,
should have so little of their consideration. What, O what more
pregnant instances and evident tokens can be given, that it is the
body, the senses, the case, a little flesh and bone covered with
skin, the toys, fopperies, and very vanities of this mortal life and
perishing world, that please, that take, that gain them; on which
they dote; and think they never have too much time, love, or money
to bestow upon them!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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