A01956:1406
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.
1. This Sicut Confines
Our imitation, and limits it to that circumference, which the present rule or compass gives it. We may not follow Christ in all things, but in this thing; Love, As he loved us. Our imitation hath a limitation, that it may not exorbitantly start out of the circle. There are special works, which God reserves to himself; and wherein he did never command or commend mans following: but rather strikes it down as presumption. His Power, his Majesty, his Wisdom, his Miracles, cannot without a contumacious ambition be aimed at. When Lucifer aspired to be like God in Majesty, he was thrown out of heaven. When Adam contended to be like God in knowledge, he was cast ⟨p. 148⟩out of Paradise. When Nebuchadnezzar arrogated to be like God in Power, he was expulsed his kingdom. When Simon Magus mounted to be like God in working Miracles, and to fly in the air, he was hurled down, and broke his neck. God must not be imitated in his Finger, in his Arm, in his Brain, in his Face; but in his Bowels. Not in the Finger of his Miracles; nor in the Arm of his Power; nor in the Brain of his Wisdom; nor in the Face of his Majesty; but in the Bowels of his Mercy. fBe ye merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful. And saith Paul; gPut on the Bowels of mercy; as Christ put them on: Forbear, forgive; Walk in Love; As he loved us. Neither Angel nor Man did ever, or shall ever offend, in coveting to be like God in Love, Grace, Mercy, Goodness. So that this Sicut excludes his Miracles, and directs us to his Morals. Walk in Love, […] &c.