A01956:245
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.
So among others, an angry word calls on a challenge: they have plausible reasons for it. Their credit lies upon it: and better lose life then reputation. If being wronged they challenge not, or being challenged they answer not; the world condemns them cowards. So they fight not so much against another's life, as against their own reproach. This were somewhat if it were tam bene, quàm magnè propositum: if the project were as Christian, as it is Roman. Now they must go to the field, pray, embrace, forgive; then fight and kill. But is this the Law that God vvil judge by? no, that Law is, Thou shalt not kill. But perhaps they purpose not to kill; yet saith God; Return not evil for evil: how doth this agree with thy colour & humour? Yet more peremptorily. cAvenge not your selves, but give place unto wrath. For vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Will you steal this from him in a glorious theft? hazard your soul more then your body? thrusting one upon an enemies sword, the other on Gods sword? Will you meet together in so bloody a design; wherein uterque letaliter peccat, saepe alter aeternaliter perit, both sin deadly, often one or both perish eternally▪ Thus your pretences may blanch it over with the name of honour: but the law you must be tried by, will find it homicide.
So among others, an angry word calls on a challenge: they haue plausible reasons for it. Their credit lyes vpon it: and better lose life then reputation. If being wronged they chalenge not, or being chalenged they answere not; the vvorld condemnes them cowards. So they fight not so much against anothers life, as against their owne reproach. This were somewhat if it were tam bene, quàm magnè propositum: if the proiect were as Christian, as it is Romane. Now they must go to the field, pray, embrace, forgiue; then fight and kill. But is this the Law that God vvil iudge by? no, that Law is, Thou shalt not kill. But perhaps they purpose not to kill; yet saith God; Returne not euil for euil: how doth this agree with thy color & humor? Yet more peremptorily. cA•enge not your selues, but giue place vnto wrath. For vengeance is mine, sayth the Lord. Will you steale this from him in a glorious theft? hazard your soule more then your body? thrusting one vpon an enemies sword, the other on Gods sword? Will you meet together in so bloudy a designe; wherein vterque letaliter peccat, saepe alter aeternaliter perit, both sinne deadly, often one or both perish eternally Thus your pretences may blanch it ouer with the name of honour: but the law you must be tried by, will finde it homicide.