A01956:695
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.
But alas! what is all this that hath been said of the eye, if God enlighten not that mental eye to see it? He must open our eyes, to behold the wonderful things of his Law. Otherwise mans sight to these objects, is but as oculus noctuae ad lumen solis. Spiritual joys he cannot perceive; and what he conceives of death and hell, he thinks of them senselessly like a beast, or desperately like a Devil. If ⟨p. 293⟩his conscience begins to wake, he sings her asleep again. And as in some, the fuliginous vapours arising from the lower parts of the body, blind the eyes: so in him the fumous evaporations of the fleshes lusts, have caused absolute blindness. The spirit of God, with the saving instrument of grace, can only take away this Cataract.
But alas! what is all this that hath beene said of the eye, if God enlighten not that mentall eye to see it? Hee must open our eyes, to behold the wonderfull things of his Law. Otherwise mans sight to these obiects, is but as oculus noctuae ad lumen solis. Spirituall ioyes he cannot perceiue; and what hee conceiues of death and hell, hee thinkes of them senselesly like a beast, or desperately like a Deuill. If ⟨p. 293⟩his conscience begins to wake, he sings her asleep againe. And as in some, the fuliginous vapours arising from the lower parts of the body, blinde the eyes: so in him the fumous euaporations of the fleshes lusts, haue caused absolute blindnesse. The spirit of God, with the sauing instrument of grace, can onely take away this Cataract.
2. There is another disease, called the Pearl in the eye; a dangerous disease, and hereof are all worldlings sick: for earthly riches is such a pearl in their eye, that they cannot see the pearl of the Gospel, which the wise Merchant sold all he had to purchase. By distrusting and distracting cares of the world, this intellectual eye is not only depraved, but deprived of light. Affectio mundi, infectio animi: our souls are affected, infected with this contagion. We are easily inclined, and declined from our supernall bliss, by doting love of these transient delights. And ubi amor, ibi oculus: the eye follows the heart, with more diligence then a servant his Master. Now it is no wonder if that eye be blind, which the Devil hath daubed up with the dirt of this world! Covetousness is an Engrosser, wheresoever it dwells: and as it would engross the whole Universe to it unsatiate self, so it takes up the whole soul, with all the affections and desires of it. It gives every member and faculty press-money, and binds all their contention to get riches. It leaves not so much as an eye for our selves, not a thought for God. Quicquid