A01956:214
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.
2. That Conscience is a sufficient judge, what needs more? I answer, properly Conscientia testis, non judex: the Conscience is a witness, rather then a judge. Indeed it hath a great office here, and so it shall-have there. It is felt now, but then more sensibly. Now many are so borne away with the precipices and streams of their sensual pleasures; ut cogitationes accusatrices non audiant. Lyran. That they hear not the accusation of their thoughts: but then it vvill be heard and felt. Now it may pluck a man by the sleeve, and crave audience, but it is drowned with the noise of good fellowship. Besides Hactenus est •ccultus testis, it is hitherto a secret witness, only known to him that hath it: but then the book that is now sealed, shall be opened, and all the world shall read it. As the seal leaves a print in the wax behind it; so the conscience an impression of past sins in the thoughts; indelible characters, which death it self shall not eat out. Conscience here doth witness, aaccuse or excuse: but Christ shall there judge the secrets of all hearts.
2. That Conscience is a sufficient iudge, what needes more? I answere, properly Conscientia testis, non iudex: the Conscience is a witnesse, rather then a iudge. Indeed it hath a great office heere, and so it shall-haue there. It is felt now, but then more sensibly. Now many are so borne away with the precipices and streames of their sensuall pleasures; vt cogitationes accusatrices non audiant. Lyran. That they heare not the accusation of their thoughts: but then it vvill be heard and felt. Novv it may plucke a man by the sleeue, and craue audience, but it is drowned vvith the noyse of good fellowship. Besides Hactenus est •ccultus testis, it is hitherto a secret vvitnesse, only known to him that hath it: but then the booke that is now sealed, shall be opened, and all the world shall read it. As the seale leaues a print in the waxe behinde it; so the conscience an impression of past sinnes in the thoughts; indeleble characters, vvhich death it selfe shall not eate out. Conscience here doth vvitnesse, aaccuse or excuse: but Christ shall there iudge the secrets of all hearts.
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