A01956:2022
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.
When.
In the time present, I am. Sum, non (sufficit, quòd) ere. It is comfort to Israel in captivity, that God says, Ero tua redemptio, I will redeem thee. But the assurance that quiets the conscience is this, I am thy salvation. As God said to Abraham; fear not, I am with thee. Deferred hope faints the heart. Whatsoever God forbear to assure us, O pray we him not to delay this; ⟨p. 347⟩Lord say to our souls, I am your salvation.
In the time present, I am. Sum, non (sufficit, quòd) ere. It is comfort to Israell in captiuitie, that God sayes, Ero tua redemptio, I will redeeme thee. But the assurance that quiets the conscience is this, I am thy saluation. As God said to Abraham; feare not, I am with thee. Deferred hope faints the heart. Whatsoeuer God forbeare to assure vs, O pray we him not to delay this; ⟨p. 347⟩Lord say to our soules, I am your saluation.
To conclude; it is salvation our Prophet desires: that God would seal him up for his child, then certify him of it. He requests not Riches: he knew that man may be better fed then taught: that wealth doth but frank men up to death. He that prefers Riches before his soul, doth but sell the horse to buy the saddle, or kill a good horse to catch a hare. He begs not honour: many have leapt from the high throne to the low pit. The greatest commander on earth hath not a foot of ground in heaven, except he can get it by entitling himself to Christ. He desires not Pleasures: he knows, there are as great miseries beyond prosperity, as on this side it. And that all vanity is but the indulgence of the present time: a minute begins, continues, ends it: for it endures but the acting, & knows no solace in the memory. In the fairest garden of delights, there is somewhat, quod in ipsis floribus angat; that stings in the midst of all vain contents.