A01956:1909
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 ear is set wide open to receive in the poison of scurrilous songs, obscene •ests, seditious libels. It is not only an Athenian ear, novitatis avida, greedy of news: but a Cretan ear, pravitatis avida, greedy of evil. It listens to hear of civill wars, uncivil treasons: it would fain have heard the great thunderclap, which the Gun-powder should have made at the blowing up of the Parliament house. Here is an ear for the Devil. Such ears have the Jesuits: they would fain hear of the ruin of kingdoms. What would make others kears tingle, makes their ears tickle. Aures illae in se sentiant, quod audire de alij• cupiunt. Let such ears feel that woe themselves, which they desire so earnestly to hear of others.
The eare is set wide open to receiue in the poyson of scurrilous songs, obscene •ests, seditious libels. It is not onely an Atheman eare, nouitatis auida, greedie of newes: but a Cretian eare, prauitatis auida, greedie of euill. It listens to heare of ciuill warres, vnciuill treasons: it would faine haue heard the great thunderclappe, which the Gun-powder should haue made at the blowing vp of the Parliament house. Here is an eare for the Deuill. Such eares haue the Iesuites: they would faine heare of the ruine of kingdomes. What woulde make others keares tingle, makes their eares tickle. Aures illae in se sentiant, quod audire de alij• cupiunt. Let such eares feele that woe themselues, which they desire so earnestly to heare of others.
The Eye-lid is set open with the gags of Lust and Envy. A libidinous eye draws in much poison. There be eyes full of adultery, saith the Apostle. They fetch in seeds of poison from the Theatre, yea (I tremble to speak it) from the Church of GOD. It beholds beauty, (Gods rare workmanship on a piece of clay) not to bless the Creator, but to draw a curse on the creature. Like a melancholy distracted man, that drowns himself in a clear Crystal river. O such chaste Beauty is like the Bellows; though it own breath be cold, it makes them burn.