A01956:677
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.
1. This teacheth us to desire in the first place, the Enlightening of our eyes; and then after, the strengthening of our feet. So that sweet Prophet ordereth his prayers, Psal. 25. First Show me thy ways, O Lord: teach me thy paths. Then Lead me in thy truth. First, clear my eyes, 1then enable my feet, Psal. 119. Make me to understand 2the way of thy precepts. And then I will run the way of thy Commandments. He that would sail safely, must get a good Pilot, before good rowers. Swift horses without a skilful waggoner, endanger more. He that labours for feet before he hath eyes, takes a preposterous course: for of the two, the lame is more likely to come to his journeys end, then the blind. Could he run as swift as ⟨p. 286⟩Hazael, and outstrip the young Hart on the mountains; yet being blind, he would hardly hit the way to Heaven. There is but one way thither; by-paths innumerable: it is a thousand to one against him, that he misseth the right. If he be set into it, yet there are so many blocks, rubs, obstacles put before him by the Devil, and the world; that he can no more go into the true way, then he could discern it from the false. But if a man hath eyes, there is hope he will creep to heaven, though on lame feet. He sees where Jerusalem stands, and hath direction for the way; (as travellers in scrolls; from such a village to such a city, &c.) so the word of God prescribes his journey; From Faith to virtue, from virtue to knowledge, from knowledge to temperance, from temperance 3to patience, &c. till he comes to enter into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence we see, there is 4somewhat more hope of a vicious person, that hath a good understanding; then of an utterly dark and blind soul, though he walks upon zealous feet. Let them know, that they will come to heaven without eyes, when the wicked come out of hell without feet.