A01956:100
The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…
The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ hath endowed her considered in some contemplations upon part of the 12. chapter of the Hebrews : together with certain other meditations and discourses upon other portions of Holy Scriptures, the titles whereof immediately precede the book : being the sum of diverse sermons preached in S. Gregory's London / by Thomas Adams ...The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ hath endowed her considered in some contemplations vpon part of the 12. chapter of the Hebrewes : together with certain other meditations and discourses vpon other portions of Holy Scriptures, the titles wherof immediately precede the booke : being the summe of diuerse sermons preached in S. Gregories London / by Thomas Adams ...
London: printed by G.P. for John Grismand, 1619London: printed by G.P. for Iohn Grismand, 1619
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.
To an innumerable company of Angels.
Behold one special dignity the Gospel brings us, Consociari Angelis; to be made companions with the Angels. The incorporeal spirits are of two sorts; Celestial & Infernal. If we weigh the malignancy of the one with the benignity of the other, we shall truly meditate this benefit. Infernal spirits are tempters to evil, and tormentors for evil. Homines seducunt, seductos damnant, damnatos torquent. They seduce mortals, seduced they damn them, damned they torment them. Because they lost being like God, they strive to make men like themselves. The devil enhanceth his own damnation, to procure others. He knows himself irrecoverably lost, therefore is desperate. These are wretched companions; Lord grant us to know no more of them then by hearsay. But the good Angels strive by all means to uphold us in our integrity, ⟨p. 36⟩to keep us in the fear of that God they know and worship: to preserve us from dangers whilst we live, and being dead to transport us to everlasting joy. Bless us O Lord with the society of these Angels for ever.
Behold one speciall dignity the Gospel brings vs, Consociari Angelis; to be made companions with the Angels. The incorporeall spirits are of two sorts; Celestiall & Infernall. If we weigh the malignancie of the one with the benignitie of the other, we shall truly meditate this benefite. Infernall spirits are tempters to euill, and tormentors for euill. Homines seducunt, seductos damnant, damnatos torquent. They seduce mortalls, seduced they damne thē, damned they torment them. Because they lost being like God, they striue to make men like themselues. The diuell enhanceth his owne damnation, to procure others. Hee knowes himselfe irrecouerably lost, therefore is desperate. These are wretched companions; Lord grant vs to know no more of them then by hearesay. But the good Angels striue by all meanes to vphold vs in our integritie, ⟨p. 36⟩to keepe vs in the feare of that God they know and worship: to preserue vs from dangers whilst we liue, and beeing dead to transport vs to euerlasting ioy. Blesse vs O Lord with the society of these Angels for euer.