A01956:171
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.
How then are the faithful here called the first borne? To answer this, we must know that God hath sons by nature, and by grace. Christ by nature only, all the elect by grace. Christ is a Son begotten, not made; we are sons made, not begotten in respect of nature. Christ as God is begotten, not borne: as man he is borne, not begotten. We see the privilege of Christs primogeniture: from his let us look to ours, for from him we have it. The elect are called First-borne in three respects.
How then are the faithfull heere called the first borne? To answer this, we must know that God hath sonnes by nature, and by grace. Christ by nature onely, all the elect by grace. Christ is a Sonne begotten, not made; we are sonnes made, not begotten in respect of nature. Christ as God is begotten, not borne: as man he is borne, not begotten. We see the priuiledge of Christs primogeniture: from his let vs looke to ours, for from him wee haue it. The elect are called First-borne in three respects.
1. Because they are united to the first borne. iFor both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. He that is made unus cum primogenito, may be well called primogenitus: one with the first borne is a first borne.
1. Because they are vnited to the first borne. iFor both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Hee that is made vnus cum primogenito, may be well called primogenitus: one with the first borne is a first borne.