A01956:1790
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
The second Sermon. › Our selves.The second Sermon. › Our selues.
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.
That was never perfectly good, that might be lost. Of this nature are riches: they have made many prouder, none better. As never man was better, so never wise man thought himself better for them. That wise Prophet would never have prayed against riches, if their want had been the want of blessedness. The Devil indeed says, All those will I give thee: but the two dearest Apostles say, Silver and gold have I none. Who would not rather be in the state of those Saints, then of that Devil? Riches are such things, as those that have them not, want them not: those that have them, want them: they are lost in a night, and a man is never the worse for loosing them. How many Kings (not fewer then nine in our Island) that have begun their glory in a Throne, have ended it in a cell: changing their command of a Sceptre, for the contemplation of a Book! Alas silly things, that they should dare ask one dram of our confidence. Non tanta in multis foelicitas, quanta in paucis securitas. There is not so much happiness in the highest estate, as there is content and peace in the lowest. Only then God be our trust, whose mercy we can no more loose, then himself can loose his mercy.
That was neuer perfectly good, that might bee lost. Of this nature are riches: they haue made many prouder, none better. As neuer man was better, so neuer wise man thought himselfe better for them. That wise Prophet would neuer haue prayed against riches, if their want had beene the want of blessednesse. The Deuill indeed sayes, All those will I giue thee: but the two dearest Aposties say, Siluer and gold haue I none. Who would not rather be in the state of those Saints, then of that Deuill? Riches are such thinges, as those that haue them not, want them not: those that haue them, want them: they are lost in a night, and a man is neuer the worse for loosing them. How many Kings (not fewer then nine in our Iland) that haue begun their glory in a Throne, haue ended it in a cell: changing their command of a Scepter, for the contemplation of a Booke! Alas silly things, that they should dare aske one dramme of our confidence. Non tanta in multis foelicitas, quanta in paucis securitas. There is not so much happines in the highest estate, as there is content and peace in the lowest. Only then God be our trust, whose mercie we can no more loose, then himselfe can loose his mercie.