A01956:1378
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.
Every man hath a better opinion of himself, then to think thus. As Hazael answered Elisha; when the good Prophet told him with tears, that he should burn the cities of Israel with fire, slay the inhabitants, rip up the women with child, and dash the infants against the stones eAm I a dog that I should do this horrid thing? So you will not think, that being now mean, you relieve the distressed; if you were rich, that you would rob, spoil, defraud, oppress, impoverish them. O you know not the incantations of the world. It is a Pipe, that (beyond the Sirens singing) makes many sober men run mad upon it. I have read of an 2exquisite musician, of whom it was reported, that he could put men into strange sits and passions, which he would as soon alter again with varying his notes: inclining and compelling the disposition of the hearer to his strains. There was one, that would make trial how he could affect him; daring his best skill to work upon his boasted composedness and resolution. The Musician begins to play; and gave such a Lacrymae, so sad and deep a lesson that the man fell into a dumpish melancholy; standing as one forlorn, with his arms wreathed, his hat pulled over his eyes, venting many mournful sighs. Presently the Musician changeth his stroke into mirthful & lusty tunes: and so by degrees into ligges, crotchets, and wanton airs: then the man also changeth his melancholy into spritely humours, leaping, and dancing, as if he had bin transformed into air. This passion lasting but with the note that moved it; the Musician riseth into wild raptures, masks and Antics. Whereupon he also riseth to shouting, holloing, and such frantic passages, that he grew at last stark mad. Such a charming power, ⟨p. 137⟩said a worthy Divine, hath the music of money and wealth, and such fits it works in a mans heart. First it takes him from peaceful settledness, and from great content in his little, and puts him into dumps; a miserable carking thoughtfulness, how to scrape together much dirt. Next when he hath it, and begins with delight to suck on the dugs of the world; his purse, his barns, and all his, but his heart, full: he falls to dancing, and singing requiems; fSoul take thine •ase, eat, drink, and be merry. Then shall his table stand full of the best dishes, his cup of the purest wine, his back with the richest robes: