A01956:251
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.
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 2thee in the last day. The Sermons thou hast heard, shall rise up in judgement to condemn thee. Hence arise three conclusions.
Therfore make we much of faith: if our soules be ballaced with this, they shall neuer shipwracke. A•asuerus had many virgins, none pleased him like Ester: none pleaseth God but faith; all the rest for her sake. Shee is ⟨p. 121⟩that Iudith, that saueth the life of all thy good workes, by cutting off the vsurping head of Satan. Thou canst not be vnwelcome to God, if thou come with confidence: nothing more offends God, then the not taking his word. Sinne offends his Law, but vnbeliefe offends his Gospel. Though we doe not what he bids vs, yet let vs be sure he will doe what he tells vs. It is good to obey the former, better to belieue the latter: because he is more able, and more good then we. Well now, after this Gospel we must be iudged: so Paul writes to his Romanes; pGOD shall iudge the secrets of all hearts by Iesus Christ, according to my Gospel. Thou canst not satisfie the Law, therefore study thy soule an answere to this booke. Otherwise, saith Christ, The vvord that I haue spoken, the same shall iudge