A01956:250
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.
Non quòd peccatū omninò non erit, sed quòd non omninò imp•atum erit. Not that sin altogether should not be, but that it shall not be imputed. How quick a riddance penitent faith makes with our sins! They are too heavy for our shoulders, faith presently turns them over to Christ. Whereas there would go with us to judgement a huge kennel of lusts, an Army of vain words, a legion of evil deeds: faith instantly dischargeth them all, kneeling down to Jesus Christ, beseeching him to answer for them.
Non quòd peccatū omninò non erit, sed quòd non omninò imp•atum erit. Not that sinne altogether should not be, but that it shall not be imputed. How quicke a riddance penitent faith makes with our sinnes! They are too heauy for our shoulders, faith presently turnes them ouer to Christ. Whereas there would goe with vs to iudgement a huge kennell of lusts, an Army of vaine words, a legion of euill deedes: faith instantly dischargeth them all, kneeling downe to Iesus Christ, beseeching him to answere for them.
Therefore make we much of faith: if our souls be ballasted with this, they shall never shipwreck. Ahasuerus had many virgins, none pleased him like Ester: none pleaseth God but faith; all the rest for her sake. She is ⟨p. 121⟩that Judith, that saveth the life of all thy good works, by cutting off the usurping head of Satan. Thou canst not be unwelcome to God, if thou come with confidence: nothing more offends God, then the not taking his word. Sin offends his Law, but unbelief offends his Gospel. Though we do not what he bids us, yet let us be sure he will do what he tells us. It is good to obey the former, better to believe the latter: because he is more able, and more good then we. Well now, after this Gospel we must be judged: so Paul writes to his Romans; pGOD shall judge the secrets of all hearts by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel. Thou canst not satisfy the Law, therefore study thy soul an answer to this book. Otherwise, saith Christ, The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge