A01956:1794
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 is then only true Honour, where dignity and desert, blood and virtue meet together: the greatness whereof is from blood, the goodness from virtue. Among Fools dignity is enough without desert: among wise men desert without dignity. If they must be separated, desert is infinitely better. Greatness without virtue laudatur ore alieno, damnatur conscientia sua; is commended by others tongues, condemned in the own heart. Virtue though without promotion, is more comforted in the own content, then disheartened by others contempt. It is a happy composition when they are united: think it your honour ye great men, that you are ennobled with virtues: not that you have, but that you deserve Honour. Let this that hath been spoken teach us some lessons concerning Honour.
That is then onely true Honour, where dignitie and desert, bloud and vertue meete together: the greatnesse whereof is from bloud, the goodnesse from vertue. Among Fooles dignitie is enough without desert: among wise men desert without dignitie. If they must bee separated, desert is infinitely better. Greatnesse without vertue laudatur ore alieno, damnatur conscientia sua; is commended by others tongues, condemned in the owne heart. Vertue though without promotion, is more comforted in the owne content, then dishartned by others contempt. It is a happie composition when they are vnited: thinke it your honour ye great men, that you are ennobled with vertues: not that you haue, but that you deserue Honour. Let this that hath beene spoken teach vs some lessons concerning Honour.
1. Take it when God sends it, but be not ambitious of it. Indigni est arripere, non accipere honorem. It is an argument of unworthiness to snatch it denied, not to accept it offered. lGod resisteth the proud; opposeth himself in a profest war against him; as if he held a sword against his breast, when he would rise up in glory, to null him fast down to the earth. But he giveth grace to the humble: like a great & good Prince he gives those servants grace and honour, whom he perceives least ambitious of it. Such men seek not for honour, as for a Jewell they would fain find, but only stumble at it, as Saul sought but his Fathers Asses, when he lighted on a Kingdom. Pride like smoke will surge upward, though it vanish into air: massive virtue like gold keeps below, & is more preciously respected.