A01956:499
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.
This misery doth so sting, terrify, and put sense into the dead flesh of the numbed conscience; that (all worldly delights being found like plummets of lead, tied about a man while he is exposed in this Sea; so far from helping him to swim, that they sink him rather) the eye looks about for another shore, and finds none but God. To this so long forgotten God, the heart begins to address a messenger, and that is Prayer. God (the wicked see) must be called on, but they know not how. They have been so mere strangers to him, that they cannot ⟨p. 220⟩tell how to salute him. Like beggars that are blind, they are forced to beg, but they see not of whom. Or if their eyes are so far open; Vident quasi è longinquo salutem, sed interiacente pelago: vident quò eundum, non quà: They see health a far off, as it were beyond the Sea: they see whither they would go, but not which way.
This misery doth so sting, terrifie, and put sense into the dead flesh of the nummed conscience; that (all worldly delights being found like plumme•s of lead, tied about a man while he is exposed in this Sea; so farre from helping him to swimme, that they sinke him rather) the eye lookes about for another shore, and finds none but God. To this so long forgotten God, the heart beginnes to addresse a messenger, and that is Prayer. God (the vvicked see) must be called on, but they knowe not how. They haue beene so meere strangers to him, that they cannot ⟨p. 220⟩tell how to salute him. Like beggers that are blind, they are forced to beg, but they see not of whom. Or if their eyes are so farre open; Vident quasi è longinquo salutem, sed interiacente pelago: vident quò eundum, non quà: They see health a farre off, as it were beyond the Sea: they see whither they would goe, but not which way.
If any inferior thing, or created prop could uphold them, God should not be solicited. If friends will, if Physic will, if money will, if all the delicate objects for any sense will ease or appease their grief, they will not seek to heaven. Yea, if Beelzebub the God of Ekron can cure them, they will not trouble the GOD of Israel. But all lower pleasures to one thus sick, is but like a sweet harmony of music to a deaf man. There is no hope of comfort but from above the clouds. Health & prosperity is but as a Coach to carry our desires to heaven, but sickness is the post-horse. Only this Sub poena can bring us to put up a supplication in the high Court of Requests and Mercy. Now lo, they pray, they beseech, they sigh, they weep, they bleed, and lastly they vow.