A01956:1474
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
A CRUCIFIX OR A Sermon upon the Passion. › WhatA CRVCIFIXE OR A Sermon vpon the Passion. › What
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.
He gave his life; who could bereave him of it? To all the high Priests armed forces he gave but a verbal encounter; I am he: and they retire and fall backward. His very breath dispersed them all. He could as easily have commanded fire from heaven to consume them, or vapours from the earth to choke them. He that controls Devils, could easily have quailed men. More then twelve Legions of Angels were at his beck; and every Angel able to conquer a Legion of men. He gives them leave to take him; yea power to kill him: from himself is that power, which apprehends himself. Even whiles he stands before Pilate scorned, yet tells him; Thou couldst have no power against me, nisi datam desuper; unless it were given thee from above. His own strength leads him, not his adversaries. He could have been freed, but he would not. Constraint had abated his merit: he will deserve, though he die.
He gaue his life; who could bereaue him of it? To all the high Priestes armed forces he gaue but a verball encounter; I am he: and they retire and fall backward. His very breath disperst them all. Hee could as easily haue commanded fire from heauen to consume them, or vapours from the earth to choake them. He that controlles Deuils, could easily haue quailed men. More then twelue Legions of Angels were at his becke; and euery Angell able to conquor a Legion of men. Hee giues them leaue to take him; yea power to kill him: from himselfe is that power, which apprehends himselfe. Euen whiles he stands before Pilate scorned, yet tels him; Thou couldst haue no power against me, nisi datam desuper; vnlesse it were giuen thee from aboue. His owne strength leads him, not his aduersaries. He could haue beene freed, but he would not. Constraint had abated his merite: he will deserue, though he die.
The loss of his life was necessary, yet was it also voluntary. Quod amittitur necessarium est, quod emittitur voluntarium. Therefore he gave up the Ghost. In spite of all the world he might have kept his soul within 1his body; he would not. The world should have bin burnt to cinders, and all creatures on earth resolved to their original dust; before he could have been enforced. Man could not take away his Spirit, therefore he gave it. Otherwise if his Passion had been only Operis, and not voluntatis; material and not formal; it could not have been meritorious, or afforded satisfaction for us. For that is only done well, that is