A01956:240
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 Law of nature commands man, to live religiously to God above him, justly to man with him, soberly to things under him. To deal justly with men nature gives him two rules: one affirmative, What thou wouldest have others to do to thee, so do to them: the other negative, Quod •ibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris: Do not that to others, which thou wouldst not have them do to thee. Even nature Instructs a man how to rule his affections. So Tully; Animus imperat corpori, ut Rex civibus: ratio libidmi, ut seruis dominus. The minde governs the body, as a King reigns over his subjects: the reason lust, as a master over his servants. Whence had he this, but from nature? There is vis rationis, orationis, adorationis. By the virtue of reason man loves man, by the power of discourse man regards himself, by the power of worship man respects God. If we should examine the particular commandments. 1. They acknowledged one God: T•lly protested, that when he wrote seriously, he mentioned but one God: and he did but ludere, play the Poet when he spake of more. Moses called this God [Greek or Hebrew], and Plato [Greek or Hebrew]. 2. Numa Pompilius judged it unlawful to ascribe any form to God invisible. 3. They durst indeed play with their puppets, imaginary gods; Venus and Cupid, &c. But for the Deity, O may not the reverence of his unknown name condemn us! They cry out, Great is their Diana: this vindicates them from vilipending the name. If they had known a greater God, they would have given greater reverence to his Name. 4. Divers of the Gentiles had their Sabbaths, mingled with strange superstitions: ⟨p. 114⟩but they were taught by nature to set apart some time for worship. 5. They commanded and commended honour to Parents: Solon ordaining no law for Parricides, answered there were none so unnatural for to attempt it. 6. That murder was held abominable, appears by their punishing it, according to Gods Law, with death. 7. That Adultery was odious, it is manifest by Pharaoh. gWhy saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife. By Abimelech to Abraham; hWhat have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me, and my kingdom a great sin? By Abimelech to Isaac: i