A01379:57
Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habitFiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit
Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit: in Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King James into blessedness. 2 A visitation sermon: in Christs Church, at the triennial visitation of the right reverend father in God the lord bishop of London. 3 The holy choice: in the chapel by Guildhall, at the solemn election of the right honourable the lord major of London. 4 The barren tree: at Pauls-Cross, Octob. 26. 5 The temple: at Pauls-Cross. August 5. By Tho: Adams.Fiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit: in Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King Iames into blessednesse. 2 A visitation sermon: in Christs Church, at the trienniall visitation of the right reuerend father in God the lord bishop of London. 3 The holy choice: in the chappell by Guildhall, at the solemne election of the right honorable the lord maior of London. 4 The barren tree: at Pauls-Crosse, Octob. 26. 5 The temple: at Pauls-Crosse. August 5. By Tho: Adams.
London: printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton for John Grismand, 1626London: printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton for Iohn Grismand, 1626
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.
A VISITATION SERMON.
ACTS 15.36. And some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our Brethren, in every City where we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they do.
ACTES 15.36. And some dayes after, Paul said vnto Barnabas, Let vs goe againe and visite our Brethren, in euery Citie where wee haue preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they doe.
There be certain royal Laws, which Christ and his Apostles made for eternal use: to the observation whereof all Christian Nations and persons are unchangeably bound. And there be some ritual things, which were at the first convenient, but variable according to the difference of times and places. Strictly to impose all these circumstances on us, were to make us, not the sons, but the slaves of the Apostles. That is a fond scrupulosity, which would press us in all fashions with a conformity ⟨p. 30⟩to the Primitive times: as if the Spouse of Christ might not wear a lace or a border, for which she could not plead prescription. Diversitas rituum commendat unitatem fidei, saith our Anselm. Let us keep the substance; for the shadow, God hath left us at liberty. But yet when we look back upon those first patterns, & find a rule of discipline fit for the present times; in vain we should study a new, that are so well accommodated with the old. The business of the Text, and Day, is a Visitation: a practice, which at the first view of the words, can plead Antiquity; and by a review, shall plead the great utility. I know there be divers kinds of Visitations: but whether they be National, Provincial, Parochial, or Capitular; they all have Authoritatem uberrimam, being grounded upon a practise Apostolical: and usum saluberrimum, (to use the words of Saint Augustine) being of a physical nature, to prevent or cure distemperatures in the Church of God.