A01956:1175
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.
We see the way, how we may loose Temples, and peace, and Gospel, and all privileges; by running the courses of disobedience. Who can number the blessings we have enjoyed by the Gospel? Let us beware, least our ungracious and ungrateful lives rob us not of that, with all the appertinent comforts. They that have travelled the Belgic Provinces, can witness the miserable footsteps of war, and the tyranny of desolation. ⟨p. 58⟩Churches and Cities have no more monuments, but the ruined foundations to testify that they were. Sin made way for blood and massacre; Idolatry pulled down those walls, which otherwise the most sacrilegious hand should have forborne. If there had been no enemy to raze them, they would have fallen alone, rather then covered so blasphemous impiety under their guilty roofs. qPeace is within our walls, & prosperity within our palaces; blessed for ever be our God of peace for it. Yet we have a subtle adversary, Sacrilege, that encroacheth sore upon us, and rhath taken many of Gods houses in possession. We cannot say, sThey have burnt up all the Synagogues in the land: but they have done very wickedly to the Lords Sanctuaries. The walls stand, and it is well if in many places they do so: but there is not a Levite to feed the people; alas, how can there when there is nothing left to feed a Levite? Covetousness would do as much hurt with us, as war hath done with our neighbours: it would, but I trust in the Lord Jesus, it shall not. Though they have rent away Gods right, tTithes and offerings: they shall never rent away Gods Truth and Gospel: rent themselves from it indeed they are likely to do.
We see the way, how wee may loose Temples, and peace, and Gospell, and all priuiledges; by running the courses of disobedience. Who can number the blessings we haue enioyed by the Gospell? Let vs beware, least our vngracious and vngratefull liues robbe vs not of that, with all the appertinent comforts. They that haue trauelled the Belgicke Prouinces, can witnesse the miserable footsteps of warre, and the tyrannie of desolation.