A01956:1319
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. Those whom he cannot corrupt against truth, he incenseth against peace. Division shall accomplish that mischief, which error failed in. Whom he cannot transport to Rome, he ferries over to Amsterdam. He will either keep men on this side the truth, or send them beyond it. Error on the right hand shall cast away souls, if error on the left cannot. Some run so far from Babylon, that they will not keep near Jerusalem: as men that run so eagerly from a Lyon, that they refuge themselves in the hole of a Serpent. The Schismatic meets with the Romanist, in superstition another way. Thus Quibus nequit tollere veritatem, negat permittere unitatem: It he cannot deprive us of truth, he will not permit us peace.
2. Those whom he cannot corrupt against truth, he incenseth against peace. Diuision shall accomplish that mischiefe, which errour failed in. Whom he cannot transport to Rome, he ferries ouer to Amsterdam. He will either keepe men on this side the truth, or send them beyond it. Errour on the right hand shall cast away soules, if errour on the left cannot. Some runne so farre from Babylon, that they will not keepe neere Ierusalem: as men that runne so eagerly from a Lyon, that they refuge themselues in the hole of a Serpent. The Schismaticke meets with the Romanist, in superstition another way. Thus Quibus nequit tollere veritatem, negat permittere vnitatem: It he cannot depriue vs of truth, he will not permit vs peace.
3. By persuading men to be temporisers, and to catch at the favours of great men. Thus when a Preacher must measure his Sermon by his Lords humour, the truth of the Lord of Hosts is smothered. Against oppression he dares not speak, because it is his Lords fault: not against pride because it is his Ladies: not against riot, because it is his young Masters: nor against drunkenness because they favour it whom his Great-one favours. He must not meddle with those ulcers, which he sees to stick on his Patrons conscience. That were the way to loose both present benefit, and future benefice; he dares not do it. Whiles he is their servile chaplain, he must learn Turkey-work; to make thrummed cushions of flattery for their elbows. It seems, it was not Gods business that such a one made himself Minister for; but his own or worse. He hath three Masters: he serves his Lord, he serves himself, he serves the Devil; which of these will pay him the best wages? Thus if Satan can neither take away the truth,