A01956:253
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 infallible certainty of a true Christians salvation, is known to himself, and cannot be doubted without sin. For if it be sin to distrust this, it is then righteousness to believe it. The sum of the Gospel is mans salvation by Christ: he that believes not this, believes not the Gospel: and he that knows the Gospel, and believes it not, shall by it be condemned. Now God in the Gospel doth not require that absolute perfection, which he did in the Law, under the peril of damnation: but qualifies the rigour of the Law by the satisfaction of a Mediator. So that the Gospel accepts the intent and endeavour for the act; as the will to repent for penitence, and the will to believe for faith. It is then not only a weakness, but a wickedness to distrust Gods mercy in thy salvation; let not this fault judge thee before Jesus Christ.
The infallible certaintie of a true Christians saluation, is knowne to himselfe, and cannot be doubted vvithout sinne. For if it be sinne to distrust this, it is then righteousnesse to belieue it. The summe of the Gospel is mans saluation by Christ: he that belieues not this, belieues not the Gospell: and he that knowes the Gospel, and belieues it not, shall by it be condemned. Now God in the Gospel doth not require that absolute perfection, which he did in the Law, vnder the perill of damnation: but qualifies the rigour of the Law by the satisfaction of a Mediator. So that the Gospell accepts the intent and endeuour for the act; as the will to repent for penitence, and the wil to belieue for faith. It is then not onely a weakenes, but a wickednes to distrust Gods mercy in thy saluation; let not this faultiudge thee before Iesus Christ.
3. The Gospel requires probation of faith by a good life. Norma fides, forma vitae: as we believe we must live. Do we believe Christ hath redeemed us? We must live like such as are redeemed: if freed, let us demean our selves as children of freedom. It is nothing at this judgement to say, I have believed, when the life shall witness the contrary: thy lips affirm, but thy works deny. As our Saviour said, Opera testantur de me; my works bear witness of me, that I am Christ: so thou must say, Opera testantur de me, my works bear witness of me, that I am a Christian. Thou shalt be saved for thy faith, not for thy works: but for such a faith as is without works thou shalt