A01956:1359
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.
Near.
Neare.
Love is also a very near way to blessedness; and as I may say, a short cut to heaven. All Gods law was at first reduced to ten Precepts. The laws of nations, though they make up large volumes, yet are still unperfect: some statutes are added as necessary, others repealed as hurtful. But the law of God, though contained in a few lines, yet contains all perfection of duty to God and man. There is no good thing that is not here commanded: no evil thing, that is not here forbidden. And all this in so short bounds, that those ten precepts are called but ten Words. Yet when Christ came he abridged this Law shorter, and reduced the Ten into Two. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart: and thy neighbour as thy self. S. Paul yet comes after and rounds up all into one. God reduceth all into Ten, Christ those ten into Two; Paul those two into one. Rom. 13. Love is the fulfilling of the 1law. Which is gCompendium, non dispendium legis; saith Tertullian: an abridging, not enervating of the law of God. So Augustin, God in all his law hNihil praecipit nisi Charitatem, nihil culpat nisi cupiditatem: commands nothing but Love, condemns nothing but lust. Yea it is not only the Complement of the Law, but also the Supplement of the Gospel. Joh. 13. Novum mandatum; A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love 4