A01956:1021
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.
1 In this life, with their souls in their bodies. 2 After death, of their souls without bodies. 3 At the last day, of both together in glory.
1 In this life, with their soules in their bodies. 2 After death, of their soules without bodies. 3 At the last day, of both together in glory.
1. In this life; and here the communis terminus of their meeting is Gods house. Where always Christ himself is one of the number. oWheresoever two or three of you be gathered together in my name▪ I will be in the midst of you. But to have his blessed society, we must not only bring our bodies, but our minds with them. Quomodo erit Christus in medio nostrum, •i nobiscum non erimus? How should Christ be with us if we be not with our selves? ⟨p. 5⟩Plus valet consonantia voluntatum qu•m vocum. The harmony 2of our voices is not so pleasing to God, as of our hearts. This is the happiest meeting in this world. The denial of this comfort made the soul of David sick, pcast down & disquieted within him. And his revival was, that he might qgo unto the altar of God, unto God his exceeding joy. Indeed the ungodly think not thus: they are more delighted with the tabernacles of Meshek and the taverns of Kidder. In the 2. of Luke, when Joseph 5& Mary had lost Jesus, coming from Jerusalem; they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. But they found him not till they came to Jerusalem; & there he was in the Temple. The children of God, when they seek Christ, find him not in the world, among their kindred & friends in the flesh; but in Domo Dei, in the house of God. It is dangerous to be absent from these holy meetings, least we miss of our Saviours company. God did not promise to meet thee here; thou usurer at the Bank, thou drunkard at the alehouse, thou sluggard on thy unseasonable couch; but at the Church. Christ comes to appear to us, and we are gone; some about our farms of covetousness, others about carnal pleasures. In vain we seek God if not in his right Ubi, where he hath promised to be found. Fugienti bonum consortium, obuenit corruptum & corrumpens sodalitium. He that eschews Christian meetings, shall be met withal, either by the Devil when he is lazy, or by the Devils friends when he is busy.