A01956:479
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. With Holiness. It is holy ground; not by any inherent holiness, but in regard of the religious use. For that place, which was once Bethel, the House of GOD; proved afterwards Bethaven, the house of iniquity. But it is thus Gods Sanctuary, the habitation of his Sanctity: Procul hinc, procul este profani. Put off thy shoes; d' off thy carnal affections; the place where thou standest is holy ground. wash thy hands, yea thy heart in innocency, before thou come near to Gods Altar. Be the Minister never so simple, never so sinful; the word is holy, the action holy, the time holy, the place holy; ordained by the most Holy, to make us holy; said a reverend Divine: Gods house is for godly exercises: they wrong it therefore that turn Sanctuarium into Promptuarium, the Sanctuary into a Buttery; and spiritual food into belly-cheer. And they much more, that pervert it to a place of Pastime; making the house of praise, a house of plays. And they most of all, that make it a house, not laudis, but fraudis: cMy house is the house of prayer; but ye have made it a d•nne of thieves: robbing, if not men of their goods, yet God of the better ⟨p. 213⟩part, sincerity of conscience.
3. With Holinesse. It is holy ground; not by any inherent holinesse, but in regard of the religious vse. For that place, which was once Bethel, the House of GOD; proued afterwards Bethauen, the house of iniquity. But it is thus Gods Sanctuary, the habitation of his Sanctity: Procul hinc, procul este profani. Put off thy shooes; d' off thy carnall affections; the place vvhere thou standest is holy ground. wash thy hands, yea thy heart in innocency, before thou come neere to Gods Altar. Bee the Minister neuer so simple, neuer so sinfull; the word is holy, the action holy, the time holy, the place holy; ordained by the most Holy, to make vs holy; said a reuerend Diuine: Gods house is for godly exercises: they wrong it therefore that turne Sanctuarium into Promptuarium, the Sanctuary into a Butterie; and spirituall food into belly-cheere. And they much more, that peruert it to a place of Pastime; making the house of praise, a house of playes. And they most of all, that make it a house, not laudis, but fraudis: c