A01956:466
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.
I complain not that our Churches are Auditories, but that they are not Oratories: not that you come to Sermons, (for Gods sake come faster) but that you neglect public prayer. As if it were only Gods part to bless you, not yours to bless God. And hereof I complain with good company. dChrysostom saith, that such a multitude came to his Sermons, that there was scarce room for a late comer: & those would all patiently attend the end of the Sermon: But when prayers were to be read, or Sacraments to be administered, the company was thin, the seats empty. Uacua, desertaque Ecclesia reddebatur.
I complaine not that our Churches are Auditories, but that they are not Oratories: not that you come to Sermons, (for Gods sake come faster) but that you neglect publique prayer. As if it were onely Gods part to blesse you, not yours to blesse God. And hereof I complaine with good company. dChrysostome saith, that such a multitude came to his Sermons, that there was scarce roome for a late commer: & those would all patiently attend the end of the Sermon: But when prayers were to be read, or Sacraments to be administred, the company was thinne, the seates empty. Uacua, desertaque Ecclesia reddebatur.
- dDe Incompreh. Dei naturae, Hom. 3.
Beloved, mistake not. It is not the only exercise of a Christian to hear a Sermon: nor is that Sabbath well spent, that dispatcheth no other business for heaven. I will be bold to tell you, that in Heaven there shall be no ⟨p. 206⟩Sermons; and yet in Heaven there shall be Hallelujahs. And this same end, for which David came to Gods house, shall remain in glory; to praise the Lord. So that all Gods service is not to be narrowed up in hearing; it hath greater latitude; there must be prayer, praise, adoration, and worship of God. Neither is it the scope of Christianity to know, but the scope of knowledge, is to be a good Christian. You are not Heathen, to ask Quid credendum, What must we believe? nor Catechists to demand