A01956:1320
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.
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, ⟨p. 119⟩nor peace, yet he labours against simplicity: that for fear of men, and hope of mens, they forbear to speak against wickedness. What his kingdom looseth one way, it recovers another.
3. By perswading men to be temporisers, and to catch at the fauours of great men. Thus when a Preacher must measure his Sermon by his Lords humour, the truth of the Lord of Hoasts is smoothered. Against oppression he dares not speake, because it is his Lords fault: not against pride because it is his Ladies: not against ryot, because it is his young Masters: nor against drunkennesse because they fauour it whom his Great-one fauours. He must not meddle with those vlcers, which he sees to sticke on his Patrons conscience. That were the way to loose both present benefite, and future benefice; he dares not doe it. Whiles he is their seruile chaplaine, he must learne Turkie-worke; to make thrum'd cushions of flatterie for their elbowes. It seemes, it was not Gods businesse that such a one made himselfe Minister for; but his owne or worse. He hath three Masters: he serues his Lord, hee serues himselfe, hee serues the Deuill; which of these will pay him the best wages? Thus if Sathan can neither take away the truth, ⟨p. 119⟩nor peace, yet he labours against simplicitie: that for feare of men, and hope of mens, they forbeare to speake against wickednes. What his kingdome looseth one way, it recouers another.