A01956:174
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.
3. Because the privileges of the first borne are theirs. These were many, as we may find in allusion to the Law. 1. The excellency of strength: qReuben my first borne, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. Man decays, and the ⟨p. 76⟩children of age are not so strong as the children of youth: therefore the first borne are called the beginning of power, and the excellency of strength. True it is, that there's no decay in Gods Spirit that begets: yet because the faithful are first in Gods intention of favour, and he gives them that strength of grace to resist sin, and to serve him, which the world hath not; therefore they are called his Firstborn, the excellency of his power. Though we be weak in our selves, yet his strength is glorified in our weakness, his rGrace is sufficient for us.
3. Because the priuiledges of the first borne are theirs. These were many, as we may find in allusion to the Law. 1. The excellency of strength: qReuben my first borne, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignitie, and the excellencie of power. Man decayes, and the ⟨p. 76⟩children of age are not so strong as the children of youth: therefore the first borne are called the beginning of power, and the excellency of strength. True it is, that there's no decay in Gods Spirit that begets: yet because the faithfull are first in Gods intention of fauour, and hee giues them that strength of grace to resist sinne, and to serue him, which the world hath not; therefore they are called his Firstborne, the excellency of his power. Though we be weake in our selues, yet his strength is glorified in our weakenes, his rGrace is sufficient for vs.
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