A01956:1381
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 it is in vain to write a mans charity in a repaired window; when his tyrannous life is written in the bloody and indelible characters, of many poor mens ruin and overthrow. Nor can the narrow plaster of a little poor benevolence, hide and cover the multitude of gaping wounds, made by extortion and unmercifulness. No, God hates the Sacrifice of robbery: itheir drink offerings of blood will I not offer; said David. The oblation that is made up of the earnings of the poor, is an abomination, offending Gods eye, and provoking his hand. First restore the lands and goods of others, injuriously or usuriously gotten: let not an unjust penny lie rotting on thy heap and heart: and then build ⟨p. 139⟩Hospitals repair ruined holy places, produce the fruits of mercy, walk in Love. Otherwise it is not smooth marble, and engraven brass, with a commending epitaph; that can any more preserve the name from rotten putrefaction, then the carcass. But for all that, the memory shall stink above ground, as the body doth under it. It is a desperate hazard, that a wicked man by a charitable will shall make amends for all: whereas commonly an usurers Testament is but a Testimony of his lewd life. There is small hope, that they end in charity who would never walk in Love.
But it is in vaine to write a mans charitie in a repaired window; when his tyrannous life is written in the bloudy and indeleble characters, of many poore mens ruine and ouerthrow. Nor can the narrow plaster of a little poore beneuolence, hide and couer the multitude of gaping wounds, made by extortion and vnmercifulnes. No, God hates the Sacrifice of robberie: itheir drinke offerings of bloud will I not offer; said Dauid. The oblation that is made vp of the earnings of the poore, is an abomination, offending Gods eye, and prouoking his hand. First restore the lands and goods of others, iniuriously or vsuriously gotten: let not an vniust peny lie rotting on thy heape and heart: and then build ⟨p. 139⟩Hospitals repaire ruin'd holy places, produce the fruits of mercie, walke in Loue. Otherwise it is not smooth marble, and engrauen brasse, with a commending epitaph; that can any more preserue the name from rotten putrefaction, then the carcase. But for all that, the memorie shall stinke aboue ground, as the body doth vnder it. It is a desperate hazard, that a wicked man by a charitable will shal make amends for all: whereas commonly an vsurers Testament is but a Testimonie of his lewd life. There is small hope, that they end in charitie who would neuer walke in Loue.