A01956:314
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. Because blood is fitter for applyment to the heart of man; who is so weak in apprehension that GOD is fain to lead him as it were by the senses? Not that there is a necessary receiving of Christs material blood by every one that shall be saved: so it might sprinkle upon the soldiers that crucified him, who yet might go to hell. But it is received Mentaliter & Sacramentaliter; there is a mental and a sacramental application. Thus we are said to drink his blood, that receive it spiritually by faith. The Papists in their opinion are fed orally with the very material blood of Christ: but then surely none of them can go to hell; for he that eats the flesh, and drinks the blood 1of the Son of Man, hath eternal life. But now the Priests, for fear belike lest too many of the people should be saved, and so Purgatory the Popedom's pillar be quite overthrown, have taken away the Cup from them; and turned Christs Bibite omnes into Bibite non omnes; Drink ye all, into drink ye only Priests, not the rest. When they had given this blood so high an honour, they thought it too good for the common sort. First they said, it is really in the Cup; there they gave it too much: then they took it from the people, there they gave them too little. First they strained it, and then they restrained it. But they answer, the people have this blood in the bread; for that is flesh, and can there be flesh without blood? If so, why then do themselves take the Cup? Either it is necessary for the people, or superfluous for the Priests. Unless they value a Clergy mans soul at a higher rate then a Laymans: as if Christs blood were not shed for the one, so well as for the other.
3. Because bloud is fitter for applyment to the heart of man; who is so weake in apprehension that GOD is faine to lead him as it were by the senses? Not that there is a necessary receiuing of Christs materiall bloud by euerie one that shall be saued: so it might sprinkle vpon the souldiers that crucified him, who yet might go to hell. But it is receiued Mentaliter & Sacramentaliter; there is a mentall and a sacramentall application. Thus wee are said to drink his bloud, that receiue it spiritually by faith. The Papists in their opinion are fed orally with the very materiall bloud of Christ: but then surely none of them can goe to hell; for hee that eates the flesh, and drinkes the bloud 1of the Sonne of Man, hath eternall life. But now the Priests, for feare belike lest too many of the people should be saued, and so Purgatory the Popedomes pillar be quite ouerthrowne, haue taken away the Cup from them; and turned Christs Bibite omnes into Bibite non omnes; Drinke ye all, into drinke ye onely Priests, not the rest. When they had giuen this bloud so high an honor, they thought it too good for the common sort. First they said, it is really in the Cup; there they gaue it too much: then they tooke it from the people, there they gaue them too little. First they strained it, and then they restrained it. But they answere, the people haue this bloud in the bread; for that is flesh, and can there be flesh without bloud? If so, why then doe themselues take the Cup? Eyther it is necessary for the people, or superfluous for the Priests. Vnlesse they value a Clergy mans soule at a higher rate then a Laymans: as if Christs bloud were not shed for the one, so well as for the other.