A01956:169
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.
The first borne. Some understand by the first borne not all the Elect; but only the Patriarchs, and such ancient Saints, the noble & primitive parts of the Church. Calvin. Then this should have been referred only to the Church triumphant in heaven; but the Catholic Church is here expressly meant, which comprehends also the Saints upon earth: therefore they also are first borne. Besides, they are said to be written in heaven, which had been a superfluous speech of those who are already in heaven: they that are there, need no writing. Unusquisque Elect•est Pimogenitus.
The first borne. Some vnderstand by the first borne not all the Elect; but onely the Patriarchs, and such ancient Saints, the noble & primitiue parts of the Church. Caluin. Then this should haue beene referred onely to the Church triumphant in heauen; but the Catholike Church is here expresly meant, which cōprehends also the Saints vpon earth: therefore they also are first borne. Besides, they are said to be written in heauen, which had beene a superfluous speech of those who are already in heauen: they that are there, need no writing. Unusquisque Elect•est Pimogenitus.
But this seems to infringe the Primogeniture of ⟨p. 74⟩Christ, to whom that Name is by special title and right given. Primogenitus inter multos fratres, saith Paul: he is the aFirst begotten among many brethren. Primogenitus universae creaturae; the bfirst borne of every creature. Primogenitus mortuorum; the cfirst borne from the dead. He is the first borne, as he is the Son of God, and as he is man. As he is the Son of God, in respect of time, before all things, the beginning of all: in respect of dignity, because he is the foundation of all good to his Church.