A01956:1576
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.
But these are but circumstances; my C•nter is their Innocence. mColumba simplex est animal, fell caret, rostro non l•dit. Other fowls have their talons and beaks, whereby they gripe and devour, like usurers and oppressors in a Common-wealth. The Dove hath no such weapon to use, no such heart to use it. They write that she hath no gall; and so free from the bitterness of anger. Talem Columbam audi•imus, non talem hominem. We have heard of such a Dove, not of such a Man. Who can say, he hath innocent hands, and a simple heart? Indeed none perfectly in Gods sight: yet some have had, and may have this in part, by the witness of their own consciences. Samuel could challenge the Israelites to accuse him; nWhose •xe have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Of whose h•d ha•e I received any bribe? And Job sweetly; My heart shall not condemn me for my days. oIf I have lift up my hand against the fatherless let it be broken. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me. (For that is true Innocence, sayth Augustine, quae nec ⟨p. 206⟩inimico nocet; that hurts not our very enemy. If my land cry against me, or the furrows thereof complain. Let thistles grow in stead of wheat, and cockles in stead of barley. How few amongst us dare thus plead! So David. O Lord, thou knowest mine innocenc•.
But these are but circumstances; my C•nter is their Innocence. mColumba simplex est animal, felle caret, rostro non l•dit. Other fowles haue their talons and beakes, whereby they gripe and deuoure, like vsurers and oppressors in a Common-wealth. The Doue hath no such weapon to vse, no such heart to vse it. They write that she hath no gall; and so free from the bitternesse of anger. Talem Columbam audiimus, non talem hominem. We haue heard of such a Doue, not of such a Man. Who can say, he hath innocent hands, and a simple heart? Indeed none perfectly in Gods sight: yet some haue had, and may haue this in part, by the witnesse of their owne consciences. Samuel could chalenge the Israelites to accuse him;