A01956:294
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.
Made perfect. This is a passive quality; non qui se perficiunt, sed qui perficiuntur: not such as have made themselves perfect, but are made perfect. The other property is actively expressed; Just, it is not said Justified: not that they made themselves just, but that Christs righteousness hath justified them; so both they are, and are reputed just. But here passively, Perfected: which plainly shows that all is from God: for omne maius includit minus. If only Christ make them perfect; then only Christ ⟨p. 145⟩doth make them •ust. For it is nothing so difficult for a just man to become perfect, as for an evil man to become just. As it is easier for a man healed and directed the way, to come to the goal; then for him that lies lame in darkness. Qui dedit ingressum, must also dare progressum: conficere & perficere; to make and to make up, to do and to perfect, are both the works of God. We could never be just, unless Christ justify us: never come to perfection, unless he perfect us. He that begun this good work, must also finish it.
Made perfect. This is a passiue quality; non qui se perficiunt, sed qui perficiuntur: not such as haue made themselues perfect, but are made perfect. The other property is actiuely expressed; Iust, it is not said Iustified: not that they made themselues iust, but that Christs righteousnesse hath iustified them; so both they are, and are reputed iust. But here passiuely, Perfected: which plainely shewes that all is from God: for omne maius includit minus. If onely Christ make them perfect; then only Christ ⟨p. 145⟩doth make them •ust. For it is nothing so difficult for a iust man to become perfect, as for an euill man to become iust. As it is easier for a man healed and directed the way, to come to the goale; then for him that lies lame in darknesse. Qui dedit ingressum, must also dare progressum: conficere & perficere; to make and to make vp, to doe and to perfect, are both the workes of God. Wee could neuer be iust, vnlesse Christ iustifie vs: neuer come to perfection, vnlesse he perfect vs. He that begun this good work, must also finish it.