A01956:506
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.
The Lord no sooner takes off the burden of misery; but we also shake of the burden off piety; we forget our ⟨p. 222⟩vows. O the mercy of God, that such forgetfulness should possess Christian hearts! This was unthankful Israels fault, Psalm. 106. They soon forgot his works: they forgot, yea soon: they made haste to forget: so the 1Original is; They made haste, they forgot. Like men that in sleep shake death by the hand, but when they are awake will not know him.
The Lord no sooner takes off the burden of misery; but we also shake of the burden off pietie; we forget our ⟨p. 222⟩vowes. O the mercy of God, that such forgetfulnesse should possesse Christian hearts! This was vnthankfull Israels fault, Psalm. 106. They soone forgot his workes: they forgate, yea soone: they made haste to forget: so the 1Originall is; They made haste, they forgate. Like men that in sleep shake death by the hand, but when they are awake will not know him.
It is storied of a rich Merchant, that in a great storm at Sea, vowed to Jupiter if he would save him and his vessel, to give him a Hecatomb. The storm ceaseth, and he bethinks himself that a Hecatomb was unreasonable; he resolves on seven Oxen. Another tempest comes, and now he vows again the seven at least. Delivered then also, he thought that seven were too many, and one Ox would serve the turn. Yet another peril comes, and now he vows solemnly to fall no lower: if he might be rescued, an Ox Jupiter shall have. Again freed, the Ox sticks in his stomach, and he would fain draw his devotion to a lower rate; a Sheep was sufficient. But at last being set ashore, he thought a Sheep too much; and purposeth to carry to the Altar only a few Dates. But by the way, he eats up the Dates, and lays on the Altar only the shells. After this rate do many perform their vows. They promise whole Hecatombs in sickness; but they reduce them lower and lower still, as they grow well. He that vowed to build an Hospital; to restore an Impropriation to the Church; to lay open his inclosures, and to serve God with an honest heart: brings all at last to a poor reckoning; and thinks to please the Lord with his empty shells. There was some hope of this mans souls health, whiles his body was sick: but as his body riseth to strength, his soul falls to weakness.