A01956:1256
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. There may be Dissension betwixt the wicked and the wicked; and hereof also is Satan author. He sets his own together by the ears, like cocks of the game to make him sport. Hereupon he raised these great Heathen wars, that in them millions of souls might go down to people his lower kingdom. Hereupon he draws ruffian into the field against ruffian: and ⟨p. 90⟩then laughs at their vainly spilt blood. All the contentions, quarrels, whereby one evil neighbour vexeth another; all slanders, scoldings, reproaches, calumnies, are his own damned fires. Thus sometimes the ungodly massacre the ungodly, oppressors devour oppressors. hI will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; City against city, and kingdom against kingdom. The Pharisees against the Sadducees: the Turk against the Pope: the Transgressor against the transgressor. Covetousness shall be against prodigality: baseness against pride: temerity against dastardy. The drunkard spills the drunkard, the thief robs the thief: Proditorisproditor: the Traitor shall be betrayed, and the cozener shall be cheated. iThey shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm; Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh. It is unpossible, that any true peace should be amongst the wicked, whiles they want the solder that should glue them together, faith. Agreement in evil is not peace, but conspiracy. Wicked mens combining themselves may be a faction, no unity, no amity: for they have but metum & noxam conscientia prosoedere: terror and guilt of conscience for their league. But some may question; doth not Satan in setting reprobates against reprobates, overthrow his own kingdom? I answer.
2. There may be Dissention betwixt the wicked and the wicked; and hereof also is Satan authour. He sets his owne together by the eares, like cockes of the game to make him sport. Hereupon hee raised these great Heathen warres, that in them millions of soules might goe downe to people his lower kingdome. Hereupon hee drawes ruffian into the field against ruffian: and ⟨p. 90⟩