A01956:1637
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.
4. We must go to our own Country. In this world we are but strangers: though perhaps we think too well of these vanities, yet they are but foreign things, we have another home. We may be ravished with this earth, as Peter with Tabor, Bonum hic; it is good being here: but if we look up to that heaven which is our Country, Mundi calcamus inutile pondus. Behold, the very outside is fair: the outmost walls are beautified with glorious lights every one as a world for greatness, so a heaven for goodliness. All those spangles be as radiant stones, full of Lustre; pure gold to the dross of ⟨p. 226⟩earthly things. What may we then think there is within?
4. Wee must goe to our owne Countrey. In this world wee are but strangers: though perhaps we thinke too well of these vanities, yet they are but forraine things, wee haue another home. We may be rauished with this earth, as Peter with Tabor, Bonum hic; it is good being here: but if wee looke vp to that heauen which is our Countrey, Mundi calcamus inutile pondus. Behold, the very outside is faire: the outmost walls are beautified with glorious lights euerie one as a world for greatnes, so a heauen for goodlinesse. All those spangles bee as radiant stones, full of Lustre; pure gold to the drosse of ⟨p. 226⟩earthly things. What may wee then thinke there is within?
Yea whatsoever the wicked think, yet this world is but the through-fare: and it is not their home neither, though indeed they have their portion in this life. It is said of Judas going to hell, that dhe went to his own place: therefore that, and not this, is their own country; as sure as they think themselves of this world. In heaven there is all life, no death: in hell all death, no life: on earth men both live and die; passing through it as the wilderness, either to Egypt or Canaan. This earth as it is between both, so it prepares us for both: and sends every one to their own country; eternal joy, or everlasting sorrow.