A01956:254
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.
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 ⟨p. 123⟩never be saved. Works are disjoined A justificando, non a justificato; from the act of justifying, not from the person justified. If this Judge for his own merits give us salvation, we must show him the fair copy of our conuersation. Quicquid Christus operatur pro nobis, operatur in nobis. Whatsoever Christ works for us, he also works in us. If he hath freed us from the damnation of sin, he hath also freed us from the dominion of sin. Albeit in our justification Fiet nobis secundum fidem nostram; Be it unto us according to our Faith: yet in salvation Reddetur unicuique secundum operasua; Every man shall be rewarded according to his works. Let not that which is a word of comfort to us, be a bill of indictment against us.
3. The Gospel requires probation of faith by a good life. Norma fides, forma vitae: as we belieue we must liue. Doe we belieue Christ hath redeemed vs? We must liue like such as are redeemed: if freed, let vs demeane our selues as children of freedome. It is nothing at this iudgement to say, I haue belieued, when the life shall witnesse the contrary: thy lips affirme, but thy works deny. As our Sauiour said, Opera testantur de me; my workes beare witnesse of me, that I am Christ: so thou must say, Opera testantur de me, my works beare witnesse of me, that I am a Christian. Thou shalt be saued for thy faith, not for thy works: but for such a faith as is without works thou shalt ⟨p. 123⟩neuer be saued. Works are disioyned A iustificando, non a iustificato; from the act of iustifying, not from the person iustified. If this Iudge for his owne merits giue vs saluation, wee must shew him the faire copy of our conuersation. Quicquid Christus operatur pro nobis, operatur in nobis. Whatsoeuer Christ vvorkes for vs, he also workes in vs. If he hath freed vs from the damnation of sinne, he hath also freed vs from the dominion of sinne. Albeit in our iustification Fiet nobis secundum fidem nostram; Be it vnto vs according to our Faith: yet in saluation Reddetur vnicuique secundum operasua; Euery man shall bee rewarded according to his workes. Let not that which is a word of comfort to vs, be a bill of inditement against vs.