Lives of John Donne, Henry Wotton, Richard Hooker and George Herbert (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1888. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... humility and mortification, or of the power of godliness." And to heighten all these discontents and dangers, there was also sprung up a generation of godless men; men that had so long given way to their own lusts and delusions, and so highly opposed the blessed motions of His Spirit, and the inward light of their own consciences, that they became the very slaves of vice, and had thereby sinned themselves into a belief of that which they would but could not believe; into a belief which is repugnant even to human nature; for the heathens believe that there are many gods; but these had sinned themselves into a belief that there was no God and so, finding nothing in themselves but what was worse than nothing, began to wish that they were not able to hope for, namely, "That they might be like the beasts that perish " and in wicked company--which is the atheist's sanctuary --were so bold as to say so: though the worst of mankind, when he is left alone at midnight, may wish, but is not then able to think it. Into this wretched, this reprobate condition, many had then sinned themselves. And now, when the Church was pestered with them, and with all those other fore-named irregularities; when her lands were in danger of alienation, her power at least neglected, and her peace torn to pieces by several schisms, and such heresies as do usually attend that sin; for heresies do usually outlive their first authors, when the common people seemed ambitious of doing those very things that were forbidden and attended with most dangers, that thereby they might be punished, and then applauded and pitied; when they called the spirit of opposition a tender conscience, and complained of persecution, because they wanted power to persecute others; when the giddy multitude raged, and bec...