A01956:1988
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.
Lastly doth the inevitable hand of death strike thee? Egredere anima mea, egredere. Go forth my soul with joy and assurance; thou hast a promise to be received in peace. Happy dissolution, that parts the soul from the body, that it may knit them both to the Lord. Death like the proud Philistine comes marching out in his hideous shape, daring the whole Host of Israel to match him with an equal combatant. The Atheist dares not die, for feare (non esse) that hee shall not be at all: the covetous usurer dares not die, for feare (male esse) to be damned: the doubtful conscience dares not die, because he knows not (an sit, an ⟨p. 336⟩non sit, an damnatus sit) whether he shall be, or be damned, or not be at all. Only the resolved Christian dares die, because he is assured of his election: he knows he shall be happy; and so lifts up pleasant eyes to heaven, the infallible place of his eternal rest. He dares encounter with this last enemy, trample on him with the foot of disdain, and triumphantly sing over him; eO death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? He conquers in being conquered; and all because God hath said to his Soul; I am thy Salvation.
Lastly doth the ineuitable hand of death strike thee? Egredere anima mea, egredere. Goe forth my soule with ioy and assurance; thou hast a promise to be receiued in peace. Happie dissolution, that parts the soule from the bodie, that it may knit them both to the Lord. Death like the proud Philistine comes marching out in his hydeous shape, daring the whole Hoast of Israell to match him with an equall combatant. The Atheist dares not die, for feare (non esse) that hee shall not be at all: the couetous vsurer dares not die, for feare (male esse) to be damned: the doubtfull conscience dares not die, because he knowes not (an sit, an ⟨p. 336⟩non sit, an damnatus sit) whether he shall be, or be damned, or not bee at all. Onely the resolued Christian dares die, because he is assured of his election: he knows he shall be happie; and so lifts vp pleasant eyes to heauen, the infallible place of his eternall rest. He dares encounter with this last enemie, trample on him with the foote of disdaine, and triumphantly sing ouer him; e