A01956:150
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.
2. Now for Instruction, what I have to say consists in the examination of two points. First, whether the Church of England be a part of this Catholic Church: then next, whether the Church of Rome have the same prerogative.
2. Now for Instruction, what I haue to say consists in the examination of two points. First, whether the Church of England be a part of this Catholike Church: then next, whether the Church of Rome haue the same prerogatiue.
For our selves; the most infallible mark of the true Church, is the right ministration of the Sacraments, and sincere Preaching the true Doctrine of the Gospel. That is the true Mother and Spouse of Christ, that brings forth children to him fof immortal seed, by the Word of GOD which abideth for ever: not of traditions, miracles, dreams; but of this incorruptible seed. And when they are borne ⟨p. 61⟩anew, feeds them with sincere Milk out of her two breasts, the two Testaments. This you know in your con sciences to be true in our Mother: she doth not give us pro lacte venenum, but milk; even the same that Christ himself put into her breasts. When we grow strong, she gives us meat, not bones: troubles us not with the subtleties of the Schools; that have Plus argutiarum quàm doctrinae, plus doctrinae quàm usus: but Quod accepit a Domino, what shee hath received of the Lord; neither more nor less, but just weight. She doth not say, Haec dicit Papa, but Haec dicit Dominus: not thus saith the Pope in his Decretals, but thus saith the Lord in his Scriptures. She doth gsay the truth in Christ, and lieth not, her conscience bearing her witness in the holy Ghost. She doth not sophisticate truth, not mingle wine with water, not daub the walls of Gods house with untempered mortar: not build upon the foundation straw & stubble: not adulterate the Word; like a lustful man, whose end is not to increase mankind, but to satisfy concupiscence. O then let us hang upon her lips, that preserve this true knowledge: and say with Peter;