A01956:1412
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. Holy.
The Love of Jesus to us was Sancta & sanctificans dilectio: a Love holy formaliter, in itself: and holy effectivè, in making those holy on whom it was set. He ⟨p. 149⟩gave himself to us, and for us: and gave us a faith to receive and embrace him. Sine quo nec dil•cti, nec diligentes fuissemus. Without whom we neither could have received love, nor returned love. Now his love did not only extend to our bodies health, but to our souls bliss. So he loved us, that he saved us.
The Loue of Iesus to vs was Sancta & sanctificans dilectio: a Loue holy formaliter, in itselfe: and holy effectiuè, in making those holy on whom it was set. He ⟨p. 149⟩gaue himselfe to vs, and for vs: and gaue vs a faith to receiue and embrace him. Sine quo nec dil•cti, nec diligentes fuissemus. Without whom wee neither could haue receiued loue, nor returned loue. Now his loue did not only extend to our bodyes health, but to our soules blisse. So he loued vs, that he saued vs.
Our love should likewise be holy & whole: desiring not only our brothers external welfare; but much more his internal, his eternal blessedness. He that pities not a famished body, deserves justly the name of an unmerciful man: but he that compassionates not an afflicted conscience, hath much more a hard heart. It is an usual speech of compassion to a distressed man; Alas poor Soul: but this same, alas poor Soul, is for the most part mistaken. Neither the pitier, nor the pitied imagines the soul pitiable. Very humanity teacheth a man to behold an execution of thieves & traitors with grief: that men to satisfy their malicious or covetous affections, should cut off their own lives with so infamous a death. But who commiserates the endangered Soul, that must then venture and enter on an eternal life or death?