A01956:1014
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
THE SAINTS MEETING, OR Progress to Glory.THE SAINTS MEETING, OR Progresse to Glory.
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.
1. The Gospel is more gracious. aGod hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The proper office of the Law was to threaten, terrify, condemne. Lex non damnans est ficta & pictalex, saith Luther. That law that doth not condemn, is a feigned and a painted law. But the power of the Gospel is to convert, and save. bThe Lord hath anointed me, (saith the Prophet in the person of Christ) to preach good tidings unto the meek, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the acceptable year of the Lord, to comfort all that mourn. The law was called the Ministration of death; but the Gospel, like John Baptist points us to Christ a Saviour; cBehold the Lamb• of God, t•king away the sin of the world. The law menaced death; but the Gospel assures us; dThere is no damnation to them which are in Christ. When the law, like a stern Sergeant, arresteth thee; Pay that thou owest; the Gospel produceth an acquittance, •ealed in the blood of Jesus; and says to thy faith, All is payed. Quod lex operum minando imper•t, lex fidei credendo impetr•t. What the law of 5works commanded threatening, the new law of faith obtaineth by believing.
1. The Gospell is more gratious. aGod hath made vs able Ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giueth life. The proper office of the Law was to threaten, terrifie, condemne. Lex non damnans est ficta & pictalex, sayth Luther. That law that doth not condemne, is a fained and a painted law. But the power of the Gospell is to conuert, and saue.