A01956:539
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.
As every particular Sin hath the particular colour: so there are general pretexts for general sins; whereby many souls are deceived. I find this doctrine, though plain, so necessary, that I must be bold to pursue it. You may easily forgive all good faults. There are seven general pleas for sin.
As euery particular Sinne hath the particular colour: so there are generall pretexts for generall sinnes; whereby many soules are deceiued. I find this doctrine, though plaine, so necessary, that I must be bold to pursue it. You may easily forgiue all good faults. There are seuen generall pleas for sinne.
1. Predestination is pleaded. If I be written to life, I may do this: for many are saved that have done worse. If not, were my life never so strict, hell appointed is not to be avoided. These men look to the top of the Ladder, but not to the foot. God ordains not men to jump to Heaven, but to climb thither by prescribed degrees. Non per saltum, sed scansum. Qui ordinavit finem, ordinavit media ad finem. He that decreed the end, decreed also the means that conduce to it. If thou take liberty to sin, this is none of the way. Peter describes the rounds of this ladder, efaith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, charity. Thou runnest a contrary course, in the wild paths of unbelief, profaneness, ignorance, riot, impatience, impiety, malice: this is none of the way. These are the rounds of a Ladder that goes downward to hell. Gods predestination fest multis causa standi, nemini labendi: helps many to stand, pusheth none down. Look thou to the way, let God alone with the end. Believe, repent, amend, and thou hast Gods promise to be saved. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.
1. Predestination is pleaded. If I be written to life, I may doe this: for many are saued that haue done vvorse. If not, were my life neuer so strict, hell appointed is not to be auoided. These men looke to the toppe of the Ladder, but not to the foote. God ordaines not men to iump to Heauen, but to climbe thither by prescribed degrees. Non per saltum, sed scansum. Qui ordinauit finem, ordinauit media ad finem. He that decreed the end, decreed also the meanes that conduce to it. If thou take liberty to sin, this is none of the way. Peter describes the rounds of this ladder,