A01956:1818
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.
THE first word is Causal, and puts us in mind of some reference. In brief the dependence is this. Little Zacheus became great in Gods favour: he was. ver. 2. a Publican, a chief Publican, a rich Publican: Yet he hath a desire to see Jesus, and Jesus hath a purpose to see him. A figtree shall help him to the sight of Christ, & Christ to the sight of him.
THE first word is Causall, and puts vs in mind of some reference. In briefe the dependance is this. Litle Zacheus became great in Gods fauour: he was. ver. 2. a Publican, a chiefe Publican, a rich Publican: Yet he hath a desire to see Iesus, and Iesus hath a purpose to see him. A figtree shall helpe him to the sight of Christ, & Christ to the sight of him.
Our Saviour calls him down, (it is fit they should come down in humility that entertain Christ) and bids himself to his house to dinner. He is made Zacheus his guest for temporal food, and Zacheus is made his guest for everlasting cheer. This day is salvation come to this house. ver. 9.
Our Sauiour calls him downe, (it is fit they should come downe in humilitie that entertaine Christ) and bids himselfe to his house to dinner. He is made Zacheus his gest for temporall food, and Zacheus is made his guest for euerlasting cheare. This day is saluation come to this house. ver. 9.
This mercy is not without the Pharisees grudging ver. 7. When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Murmuring is between secret backbiting, and open railing: a smothered malice, which can nether be utterly concealed, nor dare be openly vented. The cause of their murmuring was, that he was become a guest to a sinner: as if the Sun of righteousness could be corrupted in shining on a Dunghill of sin. No: whiles he did associate the bad, he made them good; feeding them spiritually, that fed him corporally. He did not consent to their sin, but correct it: not infecting himself, but affecting their souls, and effecting their bliss. A man may accompany those, whom he desires to make better, or them to make him better. And that the mouth of all wickedness might be stopped, our Saviour says, that his coming into the world was not only to call home Zacheus, but even many such Publicans. For the Son of man is come to seek, and to save &c.