A01956:1297
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.
But we reserve the ceremonies of a superstitious Church: but we reserve no superstition in those ceremonies. We have both abridged their number, and altered their nature. As it was a pains not amiss undertaken of late, to reduce the feast of Christs nativity, as near to the right Quando and period of time, as art and industry could devise: by taking up the loose minutes which in tract of time, and multiplication of degrees, had drawn out a wider distance by certain days, then was congruent to the first Calendar. So hath our Church so near as she could abridged the rank superfluities, and excrescent corruptions, which the Traditional ceremonies, and ceremonial Traditions of Rome had brought in, (and thereby removed her, from that nearness to her Saviour, which she formerly enjoyed) striving to reduce her self concerning Ceremonies; for their number to paucity, for their nature to purity, for their use to significancy.
But wee reserue the ceremonies of a superstitious Church: but we reserue no superstition in those ceremonies. We haue both abridged their number, and altered their nature. As it was a paines not amisse vndertaken of late, to reduce the feast of Christes natiuitie, as neare to the right Quando and period of time, as art and industrie could deuise: by taking vp the loose minutes which in tract of time, and multiplication of degrees, had drawne out a wider distance by certaine dayes, then was congruent to the first Calendar. So hath our Church so neare as shee could abridged the ranke superfluities, and excrescent corruptions, which the Traditionall ceremonies, and ceremoniall Traditions of Rome had brought in, (and thereby remooued her, from that neerenes to her Sauiour, which shee formerly enioyed) striuing to reduce her selfe concerning Ceremonies; for their number to paucitie, for their nature to puritie, for their vse to significancie.
Separate we not then from the Church, because the Church cannot separate from all imperfection. But keep the Apostles rule. aFollow the truth in love: not only the Truth, but the truth in love. Diverse follow the truth, but not truly.