A01956:152
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.
Thus we have proved the truth of our Church by Scripture: but our adversaries oppose the sufficiency of this proof, by disabling the Scriptures. They say we cannot know Scripture to be Scripture, but by the testimony of the Church. It is false, for the witness of man subject to error, is nothing to the testimony of GOD that cannot err. Therefore the Scripture is called the iTestimony, because it bears witness to it self. Besides, the Church hath her beginning from the Word, for there can be no Church without faith, no faith without the Word, no Word without the Scriptures. So the Church depends on the Scripture, not the Scripture on the church. The Lawyer that hath only power to expound the Law, is under the Law. But they object, that Faith comes by ⟨p. 62⟩2hearing, and hearing by the voice of the Church. Paul intends there not that general faith whereby we believe Scripture to be Scripture: but that justifying faith whereby we attain salvation. And this comes by the voice of the Church, not of it self, but as it is the ministry of Gods Word. John is but Uox clamantis, Christ is Verbum clamans. Particular Churches have erred; therefore the best security from error is in the Scriptures.
Thus wee haue prooued the truth of our Church by Scripture: but our aduersaries oppose the sufficiencie of this proofe, by disabling the Scriptures. They say wee cannot know Scripture to be Scripture, but by the testimony of the Church. It is false, for the witnesse of man subiect to error, is nothing to the testimony of GOD that cannot erre. Therefore the Scripture is called the iTestimonie, because it beares witnesse to it selfe. Besides, the Church hath her beginning from the Word, for there can be no Church without faith, no faith without the Word, no Word without the Scriptures. So the Church depēds on the Scripture, not the Scripture on the church. The Lawyer that hath only power to expound the Law, is vnder the Law. But they obiect, that Faith comes by ⟨p. 62⟩2hearing, and hearing by the voice of the Church. Paul intends there not that generall faith whereby wee belieue Scripture to be Scripture: but that iustifying faith whereby we attaine saluation. And this comes by the voice of the Church, not of it selfe, but as it is the ministerie of Gods Word. Iohn is but Uox clamantis, Christ is Verbum clamans. Particular Churches haue erred; therefore the best securitie from error is in the Scriptures.