A01956:618
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.
Sanctification
Is the second gate. Make your calling and election sure, saith Peter by a holy life: aFor so an Entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But bthere shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth; neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie. Therefore Paul prays the cGod of Peace to sanctify us wholly. Holiness is the way to Happiness; Grace the gate of Glory. But some may object from that of Paul, that this Sanctification must be total and perfect: but who can come so furnished to the gate? therefore who can enter the City? I answer; There is required only Sanctificatio viae, non Patria; such a Sanctity as the gate can afford, though far short of that within the City. The School distinguisheth well. It must be communiter in toto, & universaliter in singulis partibus; but not totaliter et perfectè. This Sanctification must be communicated to the whole man, and universally propagated to every part: though it have in no place of man a total perfection. Indeed Nullum peccatum retinendum est spe remissionis. No sin is to be cherished in ⟨p. 261⟩hope of mercy. But we must strive for every grace we have not, and for the increase of every grace we have. Quaerendum quod deest bonum, indulgendum quod adest. Let us make much of that we possess, and still seek for more; dstriving to the mark. And yet when all is done, Profectio haec, non Perfectio est: We have made a good steppe forward, but are not come to our full home. But still, Lord be merciful to me a sinner. And Enter not into judgement with us.
Is the second gate. Make your calling and election sure, saith Peter by a holy life: