A01956:1032
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. For their own emendation, that they may be converted to embrace that good, which they have hated. So Saul a persecutor becomes Paul a professor. Mary Magdalen, turpissima meretrix fit sanctissima mulier; a putrefied sinner, a purified Saint. Zacheus, that had made many rich men poor, will now make many poor men rich; when he had payed every man his own; (and that now he judged their own, which he had fraudulently got from them) lBehold half my goods I give to the poor. The thief after a long lewd life, hath a short happy death; and goes from the Cross to Paradise. If these had been rooted up at the first, Gods Garner had wanted much good wheat. He that is now cockle, may prove good corn.
1. For their owne emendation, that they may be conuerted to embrace that good, which they haue hated. So Saul a persecutor becomes Paul a professor. Mary Magdalen, turpissima meretrix fit sanctissima mulier; a putrified sinner, a purified Saint. Zacheus, that had made many rich men poore, will now make many poore men rich; when he had payed euery man his owne; (and that now he iudged their owne, which he had fraudulently got from them) lBehold halfe my goods I giue to the poore. The theefe after a long lewd life, hath a short happy death; and goes from the Crosse to Paradise. If these had bene rooted vp at the first, Gods Garner had wanted much good wheat. He that is now cockle, may proue good corne.
2. For the exercise of the godly. For the reprobate do not only fill up the measure of their sins; that so not mbelieving the truth, they might be damned for their unrighteousness; making their condemnation both just and great. But they serve also for instruments to exercise the faith and patience of the Saints. Babylon is a flail to bruise the nations, at last it self shall be threshed. They are but the rubbish, where with the vessels of honour are scoured: the vessel made bright; the scouring stuff is thrown to the dunghill. They are Apothecaries to make us bitter potions, for the recovery of our spiritual health: but so that they cannot put in one dram more then their allowance: and when they come to be paid for their bills, they find the sum total their own vengeance. They are like shepherds dogs, that serve to hunt the lambs of Christ to the sheepfolds of peace, but their teeth are beaten out, that they cannot worry us. Frmit lupus, tremit agnus; the wolf rageth, and the Lamb quaketh, but