A01956:1374
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.
Do not step over it, nor cross it, nor walk besides it, nor near it, but walk in it. The doctrine in full strength directs us to a constant embracing of Charity. ⟨p. 134⟩The whole course of our living, must be loving: our beginning, continuance, end, must be in Charity. Two sorts of men are here specially reprovable. Some that seem to Begin in Charity, but end not so. End in Charity, that never walked so.
Doe not step ouer it, nor crosse it, nor walke besides it, nor neare it, but walke in it. The doctrine in full strength directs vs to a constant embracing of Charitie. ⟨p. 134⟩The whole course of our liuing, must be louing: our beginning, continuance, end, must be in Charitie. Two sorts of men are here specially reprouable. Some that seeme to Begin in Charitie, but end not so. End in Charitie, that neuer walked so.
Some have had apparent beginnings of love, whose conclusion hath halted off into worldliness, whiles they had little, they communicated some of that little: but the multiplying their riches, hath been the abatement of their mercies. Too many have verified this incongruent and preposterous observation; that the filling their purses with money, hath proved the emptying their hearts of Charity. As one observes of Rome; that the declination of piety, came at one instant with the multiplication of metals. Even that Clergy, that poor cared only to feed the flock; once grown rich studied only to fill the pail. Ammianus Marcellinus saith of them, that Matronarum oblationibus ditabantur, they were enriched by Ladies gifts. And hereupon, together with that unlucky separation of the Greek head from the Latin body, the Empire began to dwindle, the Popedom to flourish. Now plenty is the daughter of prosperity, ambition of plenty, corruption of ambition. So Divitiae veniunt, Relligioque fugit. Religion brings in wealth, wealth thrusts out Religion.
Some haue had apparant beginnings of loue, whose conclusion hath halted off into worldlinesse, whiles they had little, they communicated some of that little: but the multiplying their riches, hath beene the abatement of their mercies. Too many haue verified this incongruent and preposterous obseruation; that the filling their purses with money, hath proued the emptying their hearts of Charitie. As one obserues of Rome; that the declination of pietie, came at one instant with the multiplication of mettals. Euen that Clergie, that poore cared onely to feed the flocke; once growne rich studied onely to fil the paile. Ammianus Marcellinus saith of them, that Matronarum oblationibus ditabantur, they were enriched by Ladies gifts. And heruepon, together with that vnlucky separation of the Greeke head from the Latine bodie, the Empire began to dwindle, the Popedome to flourish. Now plentie is the daughter of prosperitie, ambition of plentie, corruption of ambition. So Diuitiae veniunt, Relligioque fugit. Religion brings in wealth, wealth thrusts out Religion.