A01956:1426
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. Freely; he gives without exchange: he receives nothing for that he gives. Ungodly men have honour, wealth, health, peace, plenty: their bellies are filled with his treasure, and they do not so much as return him thanks. His Sun shines, his rain falls on the unjust and ingrateful mans ground. Man when he gives, & respicit & recipit gratitudinem; both expects and accepts thanks, and a return of love: God hath not so much as thanks. For the good, they are indeed grateful: but this Gratia grati is Gratia gratificantis: God gives them this grace, to be thankful: and they may bless him, that he stirs them up to bless him.
1. Freely; he giues without exchange: hee receiues nothing for that he giues. Vngodly men haue honor, wealth, health, peace, plentie: their bellies are filled with his treasure, and they doe not so much as returne him thankes. His Sunne shines, his raine fals on the vniust and ingratefull mans ground. Man when hee giues, & respicit & recipit gratitudinem; both expects and accepts thankes, and a returne of loue: God hath not so much as thankes. For the good, they are indeed gratefull: but this Gratia grati is Gratia gratificantis: God giues them this grace, to be thankefull: and they may blesse him, that he stirres them vp to blesse him.
2. Fully and richly, as becomes the greatest King. A Duke at the wedding Feast of his daughter, caused to •e brought in thirty Courses; and at every Course gave so many gifts to each guest at the Table, as were Dishes in the Course. And I have read of a Queen, that feasted her guests with wines brewed with dissolved precious stories; that every draught was valued at a hundred crowns. Here was royal entertainment; but this was but one Feast. Such bounty continued would quickly consume the finite means of any earthly Prince. Only God is drich in mercy: his treasury ⟨p. 155⟩