A01956:165
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.
Some have objected, and they seem to be kind friends to Rome: that Antichrist must sit in the Temple, that is the Church: therefore this sitting of Antichrist in Rome, proves them to be a true Church. But I am sure by this argument what they get in the hundred, they lose in the Shire: they may put these gains in their eye. I hope they will not confess their Pope Antichrist, to have us grant ⟨p. 71⟩them a true Church. Therefore some of them have affirmed, Hominem non Christianum posse esse Romanum Pontificem. And would not he be a strange Head of Christs Church, that is not a true member of Christs Body? But howsoever, their argument holds not: for it is one thing to be in the Church, another thing to be of the Church. Antichrist sits in that place, not as a member of the Church, but as an Usurper. So the Pirate sits in the Merchants ship, yet hath no right to it. All that can be proved hereby is, that among the Papists there is a hidden Church, in the midst whereof Antichrist dominereth, but hath no part of salvation in it. What cause then have we to bless our GOD, that hath brought us from Babylon to Jerusalem, out of darkness into his marvellous light, from the Romish Synagogue to the General Assembly, and Church of the first borne which are written in Heaven? and the Lord of his mercy preserve us in it for ever and ever.
Some haue obiected, and they seeme to be kind friends to Rome: that Antichrist must sit in the Temple, that is the Church: therefore this sitting of Antichrist in Rome, proues them to be a true Church. But I am sure by this argument what they get in the hundred, they lose in the Shire: they may put these gaines in their eye. I hope they will not confesse their Pope Antichrist, to haue vs grant ⟨p. 71⟩them a true Church. Therefore some of them haue affirmed, Hominem non Christianum posse esse Romanum Pontificem. And would not hee be a strange Head of Christs Church, that is not a true member of Christs Body? But howsoeuer, their argument holds not: for it is one thing to be in the Church, another thing to be of the Church. Antichrist sits in that place, not as a mēber of the Church, but as an Vsurper. So the Pyrate sits in the Merchants ship, yet hath no right to it. All that can be prooued hereby is, that among the Papists there is a hidden Church, in the midst whereof Antichrist dominereth, but hath no part of saluation in it. What cause then haue we to blesse our GOD, that hath brought vs from Babylon to Ierusalem, out of darknesse into his maruelous light, from the Romish Synagogue to the Generall Assembly, and Church of the first borne vvhich are vvritten in Heauen? and the Lord of his mercie preserue vs in it for euer and euer.