A01956:1628
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. Contrition▪ a heart truly sorrowful for our former iniquities. He that is cast down by repentance, shall be raised up with joy. It is not possible to walk to God without this foot. He that goes to heaven, must wash his steps with tears. And he that hath this foot, shall make large paces to glory. Though he hath long lingered, he will now hast: as the malefactor stepped by this foot from the Cross to Paradise.
1. Contrition▪ a heart truely sorrowfull for our former iniquities. He that is cast downe by repentance, shall be raised vp with ioy. It is not possible to walke to God without this foote. Hee that goes to heauen, must wash his steps with teares. And hee that hath this foote, shall make large paces to glory. Though he hath long lingred, he will now hast: as the malefactor stept by this foote from the Crosse to Paradise.
2. Faith. Sorrow may cast down too fast, too far. Though the head have leave to ache, yet let not the hand of faith be wanting to hold it. Though the eye be blubbered with tears, yet must it look through all that water to the clear Sun, Jesus Christ. When the Law hath done the office in making thy sin manifest; thank it, and take thy leave of it: as thou wouldest do of a friend that hath done thee a good turn, but now grows troublesome. Put Moses behind thee, saith Luther: and fix thine eyes upon Christ; that rLamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. Without this foot thou shalt step short of comfort. Faith must bring thee to the fountain of that sBlood, which shall wash away all thy sins.
2. Faith. Sorrow may cast downe too fast, too far. Though the head haue leaue to ake, yet let not the hand of faith be wanting to hold it. Though the eye be blubbred with teares, yet must it looke through all that water to the cleare Sunne, Iesus Christ. When the Law hath done the office in making thy sinne manifest; thanke it, and take thy leaue of it: as thou wouldest doe of a friend that hath done thee a good turne, but now growes troublesome. Put Moses behind thee, sayth Luther: and fixe thine eyes vpon Christ; that