A01956:1341
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 some wicked men have loved the godly: True, but not for their actions, not for their persons, not of their own natures. But 1. either because God snaffles the horses and mules, and curbs the malicious rage of Tyrants. Or 2. converts them to the faith and obedience of his truth; as he took Saul from his raging cruelty, and made him ready to die for him, whose servants he would have killed: so turning a Wolfe into a Lamb. Or 3. else they love the good for some benefit by them: and therein they love not them, so much as themselves in them. So Ahashuerosh loved Esther for her beauty; Nebuchadnezz•, Daniel for his wisdom: […], Joseph because his house prospered by him: and ⟨p. 126⟩for this cause did the former Pharaoh affect him.
But some wicked men haue loued the godly: True, but not for their actions, not for their persons, not of their owne natures. But 1. either because God snafles the horses and mules, and curbes the malicious rage of Tyrants. Or 2. conuerts them to the faith and obedience of his truth; as he tooke Saul from his raging crueltie, and made him readie to die for him, whose seruants he would haue killed: so turning a Wolfe into a Lambe. Or 3. els they loue the good for some benefit by them: and therein they loue not them, so much as themselues in them. So Ahashuerosh loued Hester for her beautie; Nebuchadnezz•, Daniel for his wisedome: 〈…〉, Ioseph because his house prospered by him: and ⟨p. 126⟩for this cause did the former Pharaoh affect him.
But otherwise with blood-red eyes, and faces sparkling fire they behold us; as Haman did Mordecai. They plot like Machiavels, rail like Rabshace's, and conspire like Absaloms. These are the Devils Bellows here, to blow quarrels among men: and shall be his bellows in hell to blow the fire of their eternal torments. A man that is great both in wealth and wickedness, cannot be without these bellows, Intelligencers, Informers, Tale-bearers. Let these seditious spirits understand their employment; they are the Devils bellows; and when their service is done, they shall be thrown into the fire.