A01956:303
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.
Of the new Covenant. For Moses may seem to be a Mediator of the Old Covenant. mI stood between the Lord and you at that time, to show you the Word of the Lord. This ⟨p. 150⟩Mediatorship of the New covenant is a high office, competible to none but the Lord Jesus. Who should appear between a just God, and sinful men; but he that is mortal with men, and just with God? It is a Covenant, for there is something agreed on both sides: we covenant to believe, and God to forgive. A New covenant; there was cold comfort for us in the old. A man reading, Fac hoc et vines, Doe this and thou shalt live: thinks of it as if he were bidden to catch a star from the firmament, & take it for his labour. But in the New, Crede et vine; believe & live for ever. The condition on mans part is believing, the covenant on Gods part is Saving. Now, though it be true, that it is as easy for man of himself to fulfil the Law, as it is to believe the Gospel, yet the New covenant, Dat credere, gives a man power to believe: for faith is the fair gift of God. Praecipit non adiuvat Lex, offert et affert Evangelium. The Law gives commandment, but not amendment: the Gospel brings salvation to our hearts, & our hearts to salvation. As it chargeth us, so it aideth us. As this Mediator gives Fidem quam credimus, the faith which we believe, mercy and remission: so also Fidem qua credimus, the faith whereby we believe, grace to apprehend this mercy. nChrist hath obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Of the new Couenant. For Moses may seeme to be a Mediator of the Old Couenant. mI stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the Word of the Lord. This ⟨p. 150⟩Mediatorship of the New couenant is a high office, competible to none but the Lord Iesus. Who should appeare betweene a iust God, and sinfull men; but he that is mortall with men, and iust with God? It is a Couenant, for there is something agreed on both sides: we couenant to belieue, and God to forgiue. A New couenant; there was cold comfort for vs in the old. A man reading, Fac hoc et vines, Doe this and thou shalt liue: thinks of it as if he were bidden to catch a starre from the firmament, & take it for his labour. But in the New, Crede et vine; belieue & liue for euer. The condition on mans part is belieuing, the couenant on Gods part is Sauing. Now, though it be true, that it is as easie for man of himselfe to fulfill the Law, as it is to belieue the Gospel, yet the New couenant, Dat credere, giues a man power to belieue: for faith is the faire gift of God. Praecipit non adiuvat Lex, offert et affert Euangelium. The Law giues commandement, but not amendment: the Gospel brings saluation to our hearts, & our hearts to saluation. As it chargeth vs, so it aydeth vs. As this Mediator giues Fidem quam credimus, the faith which we belieue, mercy and remission: so also Fidem qua credimus, the faith whereby we belieue, grace to apprehend this mercy.