A01956:545
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.
5. But say some, God is merciful. Comfortable truth: else woe, woe to miserable man. But shall God show mercy to those that abuse his mercy? He will not be so merciful to thee, as to be unjust to himself. God will be just, go thou on and perish. God showed mercy to the relenting, not to the railing thief. Wouldst thou have him merciful to thee, that art unmerciful to him, to thy self? Misericordia amplectenti, non tergiver santidatur. They that will lead a wicked life, sub spe misericordiae, in hope of mercy: shall meet with a fearful death, sub terror Justitiae, in the horror of Justice. Kiss the mercy of God, abuse it not. Where is Praesumptio veniae, will follow Consumptio poen•: a presuming of favour shall be punished with a consuming wrath. Be not deceived, &c.
5. But say some, God is mercifull. Comfortable truth: else woe, woe to miserable man. But shall God shew mercy to those that abuse his mercy? Hee will not be so mercifull to thee, as to be vniust to himselfe. God will be iust, goe thou on and perish. God shewed mercy to the relenting, not to the railing theefe. Wouldst thou haue him mercifull to thee, that art vnmercifull to him, to thy selfe? Misericordia amplectenti, non tergiuer santidatur. They that will lead a wicked life, sub spe misericordiae, in hope of mercy: shall meet with a fearefull death, sub terrore Iustitiae, in the horror of Iustice. Kisse the mercy of God, abuse it not. Where is Praesumptio veniae, will follow Consumptio poen•: a presuming of fauour shall bee punished with a consuming wrath. Be not deceiued, &c.
6. Others allege; Christ died for our sins, and his satisfaction is of infinite price. This is the door of hope, from which the profanest wretch is angry to be driven. The most presumptuous sinner flatters his soul with this comfort: as if the gates of Heaven were now set open, and he might enter with all his iniquities on his back. ⟨p. 237⟩Indeed there is no want in Christ; but is there none in thee? In him is plenteous redemption; but how if in thee there be scarce faith? whatsoever Christ is, what ar thou?