A01956:179
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.
2. Seeing we are Gods first borne, let us offer our first and best things to him. The Lord hath deserved the priority ⟨p. 79⟩of our service: iFirst seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof. Our first studies, our first labours must be consecrated to God. The Law required three properties in the sacrifices offered to God. 1. They must be first borne: ut illi reddamus prima, qui nobis debil omnia: that wee should willingly give him the first, that had bountifully given us all. So we must give the first hour of the day, the first work of our hands, the first words of our lips to the Lord. 2. They must be clean beasts, for God abhorred the unclean, maimed, or deformed. kYe offer polluted bread upon mine Altar. If ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? if ye offer the lame & sick, is it not evil? offer it now to the governor, will he be pleased with it? So we must hold up to God clean hands, and send up pure hearts: lmaking straight paths for our feet, lest that which is halting be turned out of the way. 3. The sacrifices must be Males, because the best and most perfect things are to be given to God. Multi homines, pauci viri. Let us offer up our masculine virtues, mgrowing to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We must aim at this perfect sacrifice.
2. Seeing we are Gods first borne, let vs offer our first and best things to him. The Lord hath deserued the priority ⟨p. 79⟩of our seruice: iFirst seeke the kingdome of God, and the righteousnesse thereof. Our first studies, our first labours must bee consecrated to God. The Law required three properties in the sacrifices offered to God. 1. They must be first borne: vt illi reddamus prima, qui nobis debil omnia: that vvee should vvillingly giue him the first, that had bountifully giuen vs all. So vve must giue the first houre of the day, the first vvorke of our hands, the first wordes of our lips to the Lord. 2. They must bee cleane beasts, for God abhorred the vncleane, maimed, or deformed.