A01281:73
Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho
Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by Tho: Adams.Englands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho: Adams.
London: printed by E for John Budge, 1615London: printed by E for Iohn Budge, 1615
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Read to learn, learn to practise, practise to live and live to praise God for ever. 3 A third sickness, which may inwardly afflict a Church is Dissension: a sore shaking to the joints, an enervating the strength, and a dangerous degree to dissolution. The world being but one, teacheth that there is but one God, that governs it, one God; that there is but one Church, one truth. 1The Church is not only (Columna veritatis, sed columba unitatis) the pillar of truth, 1. Tim. 3.15. but also the Dove of Unity. Cant. 6. My Dove, my undefiled is alone. Dissentions like secret and close Judases have given advantageous means to our common enemies, both to scorn and scourgeth Church. Clemens Alexand••• brings in the Heathen, exprobrating our Religion for untrue, unwarrantable, • Quia omnis Secta Christianismit• tulum sibi vendicat, 2tameu aliae aliam execratur & condemnat. ⟨p. 37⟩Because every sect challengeth to it self the city and right of true Christianity, yet one curseth and condemneth another. Within how much the narrower limits this distraction is pent, it so much the more violently bursteth forth and strives to rend the bowels of a Church. Like some angry and furious vapour, or exhalation restrained. that shakes the very earth for vent and passage. Such hath been the distractedness of some times, that men have laboured to be neuters, and studied more to be indifferently disposed to either side, then to be religious at all. Such a time doth Erasmus mention, sQuando ingeniosares fuit esse Christianum, when it was a point of policy, and wit to be a Christian. I confess indeed, that Unity is no inseparable and undoubted mark of the Church, for there was an unity in those murdering voices, Crucify him, Crucify him, The Kings of the earth have banded themselves together against the Lord. 4