A01956:300
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.
And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel. We have considered the glory of the City, the felicity of the Citizens; we are lastly come to the Mediator, who brings both these together, and without whom they ⟨p. 148⟩had been everlastingly asunder. We are all by nature belonging not to Mount Zion, but to the valley of Hinnon: not to the celestial Jerusalem, but to the infernal Babylon: not to the society of glorious Angels, but of afflicting Devils: not to the Church of the first borne, but to the assembly of abortive reprobates: we had no reference to God as a kind Father, but as a severe Judge: not to just spirits made perfect from sin, but to lost spirits made perfect in sin. Thus were we by nature, but Jesus hath brought us to Mount Zion, &c. How blessed a thing will it be to come unto this Jesus! It was Saint Augustine's special wish, to have seen Christ in the flesh. If there were such comfort in seeing Christ humbled, if such admiration in seeing him transfigured, what joy is it to behold him in heaven glorified! How glorious a matter do some think it to stand in the Court of an earthly Prince, to receive a gracious look, to hear a royal word, or to be commanded some honourable service! what is it then to stand in the Court of heaven, to have the King of Kings speak peaceably to us, to behold our Lord Jesus crowned with that immortal Diadem, to sing his praises as free from flattery, as from inconstancy, and to live in that Paradise for ever! Ubicunque fueris Domine Jesus: wheresoever thou art O blessed Saviour, give us no more happiness then to be with thee. If thou be in the earth, we will travel day and night to come to thee; if on the sea, with Peter we will swim to thee: if on the Cross, we will stand weeping by thee: if riding in triumph, we will sing Hosanna to thee: if transfigured on Tabor, we will be ravished with thee: but if sitting in thy heavenly Throne, how blessed even to look upon thee! It is his kwill, that we should be with him where he is, and behold his glory. We are now come to him by a conjunction mystical, we shall then have a vicinity local, and eternal.
And to Iesus the Mediator of the new Couenant, and to the bloud of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel. We haue considered the glory of the Citie, the felicity of the Citizens; we are lastly come to the Mediator, who brings both these together, and without whom they