A01956:167
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.
For my part I judge not: GOD reserves to himself three things; The revenge of injuries, The glory of deeds, The judgement of secrets. I will not judge, but like a witness give in my testimony. And here Qui bene distinguit, been docet. The best construction is that which inclines to charity: that is, there is no probable salvation in the 1Church of Rome. Infants dying before they come to these errors, I believe saved: for others, Nescio quid dicere; I know not what to say. They have damnable heresies, as that of Free will, of Merits, &c. yet the persons that of weakness defend them, may be saved. God pardons even wilful errors, if they be truly repented. Therefore I believe that many of our forefathers went to Heaven, though through blindness. Now indeed they are more inexcusable, because our sound is gone out among them. There are Seducentes and Seducti: the wilful blind ⟨p. 73⟩lead the woeful blind, until both fall into the ditch. If they will not see, there is no help, no hope. If simple ignorance mislead, there is hope of return: but if affected, it is most wretched. Our office is to help them with our prayers: and let us pray for them as Paul for his Ephesians; That the eyes of our understanding being enlightened, 2they may know what is the hope of Gods calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance is in the Saints. Many of them have ready hearts, but they want eyes: we have open eyes, God grant us ready hearts.
For my part I iudge not: GOD reserues to himselfe three things; The reuenge of iniuries, The glory of deeds, The iudgement of secrets. I will not iudge, but like a witnesse giue in my testimony. And here Qui bene distinguit, bene docet. The best construction is that which enclines to charitie: that is, there is no probable saluation in the 1Church of Rome. Infants dying before they come to these errors, I beleeue saued: for others, Nescio quid dicere; I know not what to say. They haue damnable heresies, as that of Free will, of Merites, &c. yet the persons that of weakenesse defend them, may be saued. God pardons euen wilfull errors, if they be truly repented. Therefore I belieue that many of our forefathers went to Heauen, though through blindnesse. Now indeede they are more inexcusable, because our sound is gone out among them. There are Seducentes and Seducti: the wilfull blind