A01956:419
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.
For the latter: Into a wealthy place. The greatness of our felicity doth far transcend the grievousness of our past misery. The dimension of our height exceeds that of our depth: neither did affliction ever bring it so low, as our elevation hath advanced us high. Hereon S. Paul Rom. 8. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to 1be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us. whether we compare or their Strength, Length.
For the latter: Into a wealthy place. The greatnesse of our felicity doth farre transcend the grieuousnesse of our past misery. The dimension of our height exceedes that of our depth: neyther did affliction euer bring it so low, as our eleuation hath aduanced vs high. Hereon S. Paul Rom. 8. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to 1be compared with the glory, which shall bee reuealed in vs. whether we compare or their Strength, Length.
For their vigour or strength: the affliction of man, in the greatest extremity, that he can lay it on man, is but finite as the afflicter. The blow comes but from an arm of flesh, and therefore can wound but flesh. Yield the extension of it to reach so far as any possible malice can drive it: yet it can but rack the body, distend the joints, sluice out the blood, and give liberty to the imprisoned soul. Which soul they cannot strike. Therefore saith Christ, Fear not him that hath power over the body only, not over the soul. And even in the middest of this dire persecution, God can either quite deliver us, ⟨p. 193⟩