A01956:533
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.
When mens wits, and the devils to help, have found out the fairest pretexts for sin; Gods justice strikes off all, and leaves Sin naked and punishable. Many pretences have been found out for many sins: besides distinctions, mitigations, qualifications, extenuations, colours, questions, necessities, inconveniences, tolerations, ignorances. But when man hath done, God begins. One argument of Gods now, is stronger then all ours. Thou shalt not do this. Go study to persuade thy self, that thou mayest: yet at last GOD takes away all thy distinctions, when he pours his wrath on thy naked conscience. Then where is thy paint? If it prevail not against the Sun, what will it do against the fire?
When mens wits, and the deuils to helpe, haue found out the fairest pretexts for sinne; Gods iustice strikes off all, and leaues Sinne naked and punishable. Many pretences haue been found out for many sinnes: besides distinctions, mitigations, qualifications, extenuations, colours, questions, necessities, inconueniences, tolerations, ignorances. But when man hath done, God begins. One argument of Gods now, is stronger then all ours. Thou shalt not doe this. Goe study to perswade thy selfe, that thou mayest: yet at last GOD takes away all thy distinctions, when he poures his wrath on thy naked conscience. Then where is thy paint? If it preuaile not against the Sunne, what will it doe against the fire?
God charged our first Parents, that they should not ⟨p. 232⟩cate of the forbidden fruit: If you do, you shall dye. The devil comes first with a flatte Negative; hNon mori•mini: Ye shall not dye. Then with subtle promises; Ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. But what is the event? They eat, and they die; are instantly made mortal, and should have died for ever, but for a Saviour. GOD bids Saul slay all in Amalek, 1. Sam. 15. Smite Amalek, utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not. Yet Saul