A01956:389
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.
Per mare mactantes fugimus, per saxa, per ignes.
1. From the former observe, that it may be lawful in time of persecution to fly. This was granted, yea in some respects enjoined by Christ. But must be warily understood; and the rule in a word may be this. When our suffering may stand the Church of God in better stead then our flying; we must then lose our lives, to save Gods honour and our own souls. To deny God this fealty and tribute of our bloods, when his glory hath use of such a service at our hands, is not only to deny him that is his own by many dear titles; of creation which was ex spiritu oris, by the breath of his mouth; and of redemption which was ex sanguine cordis, by the blood of his heart. But to withdraw this justly required testimony, is to betray and crucify him; and scarce inferior to their perjury, whose false witness condemned him.
1. From the former obserue, that it may be lawfull in time of persecution to flie. This was granted, yea in some respects enioyned by Christ. But must be warily vnderstood; and the rule in a word may bee this. When our suffering may stand the Church of God in better stead then our flying; we must then lose our liues, to saue Gods honour and our owne soules. To deny God this fealtie and tribute of our blouds, when his glory hath vse of such a seruice at our hands, is not onely to deny him that is his owne by many deare titles; of creation which was ex spiritu oris, by the breath of his mouth; and of redemption which was ex sanguine cordis, by the bloud of his heart. But to withdraw this iustly required testimony, is to betray and crucifie him; and scarce inferior to their periury, whose false witnesse condemned him.
In this we restore to God his talent with profit; not only our own soul he gave us, but as many more as our example works upon, and wins to him. When the people admired the great bounty of John, called Eleemosynarius,