Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1392] The true Christian's desires are all for Heaven.

IT was a notable speech of Erasmus, if spoken in earnest, and his wit were not too quick for his Conscience;* 1.1 Nihilo magis ambio opes et dignitates, quam e-lumbis equus graves sarcinas. He said, he desired Wealth and Honour no more then a feeble Horse doth an heavy Cloak-bag; Thus every good Christian ought to be of his mind; And indeed all the Christian hath or desires, as a Christian, is Heavenly;* 1.2 the World is extrinsecal, both to his being and happinesse; it is a stranger to the Christian, and intermeddles not with his joy nor grief; Heap all the Riches and Honours of the World upon a Man, they will not make him a Christian; heap them on a Christian they will not make him a better Christian; Again, take them all away, let every bird have his feather, when stript and naked he will be still a Christian, and it may be a better Christian then otherwise he would have been.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In vit•• prae∣fixa operibus.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 38. Iob 6.