A01956:261
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.
6. Regni Paratio; Prepared for you: Not merited in your times, but prepared before all times. It had no beginning in respect of Gods intention: it shall have no end in respect of your possession. Gods decree to give it us had no beginning, but shall have an end: our fruition of it shall have a beginning, but no end: Gods mercy in both hath neither beginning nor end; but is from everlasting to everlasting. Had the Lord such care to provide a kingdom for his children before they were; then sure he will give it them at the appointed time. So certain are they of blessedness, that it is prepared for them from the foundation of the world. For you: not for all: there is no universal election, God decrees not all to be saved. Then Christ should have said thus, Inherit the kingdom; Paratum omnibus, Datum vobis: prepared for all, and given to you: but he saith, Prepared for you, therefore not purposed to all. Seeing there is so good cheer prepared for us, let us prepared ⟨p. 126⟩for us, let us prepare our selves for that: like some dainty guest, who knowing there is such delicate fare behind, keeps his stomach for it. Let us disdain the course diet of this world, that dangers us to the dropsy of covetise, or the surfeits of riot. We use to fast on the Eves, that we may feast on the Holy-days: let us here abstain from the table of sin, that we may hereafter banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven.
6. Regni Paratio; Prepared for you: Not merited in your times, but prepared before all times. It had no beginning in respect of Gods intention: it shall haue no end in respect of your possession. Gods decree to giue it vs had no beginning, but shall haue an end: our fruition of it shal haue a beginning, but no end: Gods mercy in both hath neither beginning nor end; but is from euerlasting to euerlasting. Had the Lord such care to prouide a kingdom for his children before they were; then sure hee will giue it them at the appointed time. So certaine are they of blessednesse, that it is prepared for them from the foundation of the world. For you: not for all: there is no vniuersall election, God decrees not all to bee saued. Then Christ should haue said thus, Inherit the kingdome; Paratum omnibus, Datum vobis: prepared for all, and giuen to you: but he saith, Prepared for you, therefore not purposed to all. Seeing there is so good cheare prepared for vs, let vs prepared ⟨p. 126⟩