A01956:1203
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.
2. In regard of the Creatures, to show their Obedience to their Creator: they are not wanting to him, that gave being to them. These demonstrate, it was their Lord that suffered; and that they were ready to execute vengeance on his murderers. The heaven that was dark would have rained fire on them: the earth that quaked, shook them to pieces: the rocks that rent, tumbled on them: and the graves that opened to let out other prisoners, have swallowed them quick. They all waited but his command to perform this revengeful execution. Who shall now dare to persecute Christ in his members? The stones are thy enemies, the earth gapes for thee, hell it self enlargeth her jaws: if the Lord but hiss to them, they are suddenly in an uproar against thee. Go on in your malice ye raging persecutors: you cannot wrong Christ, no not in his very members, but you pull the fists of all creatures in heaven, earth, and hell about your ears: flies from the air, beasts from the earth, poison from sustenance, thunder from the clouds; yea at last also (though now they help you) the very devils from hell against you. All creatures shoot their malignancy at them, ⟨p. 69⟩that shoot theirs at Christ.
2. In regard of the Creatures, to shew their Obedience to their Creator: they are not wanting to him, that gaue being to them. These demonstrate, it was their Lord that suffered; and that they were ready to execute vengeance on his murderers. The heauen that was darke would haue rained fire on them: the earth that quaked, shooke them to peeces: the rockes that rent, tumbled on them: and the graues that opened to let out other prisoners, haue swallowed them quicke. They all waited but his command to performe this revengefull execution. Who shall now dare to persecute Christ in his members? The stones are thy enemies, the earth gapes for thee, hell it selfe enlargeth her iawes: if the Lord but hisse to them, they are suddenly in an vprore against thee. Goe on in your malice ye raging persecutors: you cannot wrong Christ, no not in his very members, but you pull the fists of all creatures in heauen, earth, and hell about your eares: flies from the aire, beasts from the earth, poison from sustenance, thunder from the clouds; yea at last also (though now they helpe you) the very deuils from hell against you. All creatures shoote their malignancie at them, ⟨p. 69⟩