A01956:1167
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.
Christ is said to be the end of the law: the moral law he kept himself sincerely, and satisfied for us soundly. The Ceremonial was referred to him, performed of him, fulfilled in him, extinguished by him. They had all Vig• a Christo, relationem ad Christum, consummationem in Christo. Hee gave them their beginning, he hath also given them their end. The Veil rent, to witness the cancelling of that ritual obligation. Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against 1us, nailing it to his Cross. That moment was their last gasp; they expired with Christ. But d•d all Ceremonies then utterly die? No: some were typical prefiguring Christ: those are dead. Some are for decency and order, adminicula devotionis, these are not dead. The law of Jewish ceremonies is abolished: but some must be retained. Christ came not to dissolve order. Men consist of bodies as well as souls; and God must be served with both: now bodies cannot serve God without external rites: the Spouse of Christ cannot be without her borders and laces. On necessity there must be some outward observances; but thus qualified. That they be for number few, for signification plain, ⟨p. 53⟩for observation simple: far from ostentation, farther from superstition. Christ his Spouse must not flaunt it like an harlot, but be soberly attired like a grave matron. Ceremoniae quasi care moniae, wants a carendo; as it were ordained to supply the defects of our nature. Because we could not serve God in that simplicity we ought, therefore we have these helps. Hence it is, that the nearer to perfection, the fewer ceremonies; as it were the more light, the less shadow. In the law were abundant ceremonies, in the Gospel far fewer, in heaven none at all.
Christ is sayd to be the end of the law: the morrall law he kept himselfe syncerely, and satisfied for vs soundly. The Ceremoniall was referred to him, performed of him, fulfilled in him, extinguished by him. They had all Vig• a Christo, relationem ad Christum, consummationem in Christo. Hee gaue them their beginning, hee hath also giuen them their end. The Vaile rent, to witnesse the cancelling of that rituall obligation. Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against