A01956:1112
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
PRESUMPTION running into DESPAIR. › They said.PRESVMPTION running into DESPAIRE. › They said.
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.
Behold, God accuseth not, they accuse themselves. God loves to have a sinner accuse himself: and therefore sets his deputy in the breast of man: which though it be a neuter when the act is doing, is an adversary afterwards. The conscience is like the poise of a clock: the poise being down, all motion ceaseth, the wheels stir not: wound up, all is set on going. Whiles conscience is down, there is no noise or moving in the heart; all is quiet: but when it is wound up by the justice of God, it sets all the wheels on working: tongue to confess, eyes to weep, hands to wring, breast to be beaten, heart to ache, voice to cry; and that, where mercy steps not in, a fatal cry; to the hills, Fall on us, and hide us.
Behold, God accuseth not, they accuse themselues. God loues to haue a sinner accuse himselfe: and therefore sets his deputie in the brest of man: which though it be a neuter when the act is doing, is an aduersary afterwards. The conscience is like the poise of a clocke: the poise being downe, all motion ceaseth, the wheeles stirre not: wound vp, all is set on going. Whiles conscience is downe, there is no noise or moouing in the heart; all is quiet: but when it is wound vp by the iustice of God, it sets all the wheeles on working: tongue to confesse, eyes to weepe, hands to wring, brest to be beaten, heart to ake, voice to cry; and that, where mercie steps not in, a fatall cry; to the hils, Fall on vs, and hide vs.
Sin, and judgment for sin, make the most cruel men cowardly. Tyrants whose frowns have been death; oppressors that have made their poor Tenants quake at their looks; now tremble themselves: & would change firmness with an aspen leaf. They that care not for the act of sin, shall care for the punishment. Tumidi faciendo, timidi patiendo. Nero that could not be tired in cutting throats, is soon weary of his own torment. They that have made others weep, shall desperately howl themselves. Cain, that durst kill the fourth part of the world at a blow, even his own brother; dares afterwards not look a man in the face, lest he fshould be slain. Who durst be more impudently bold with God then Judas, when he betrayed his only Son to murderers? yet after the treason who more cowardly then Judas? he becomes his own hangman. The curse that follows sin makes Presumption