A01956:701
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.
The eye of Faith sees further then both the former; for it looks into the hope of our calling, and the glorious inheritance of the Saints. The Christian hath not only an eye of Sense common with beasts; nor an eye of reason common with men; but also an eye of faith proper to his profession. Wherein he goes beyond the natural man, further then the natural man goes beyond the beast. The unregenerate lives all his days in a mist: he cannot look up to heaven; in comparison whereof that world he sees, is but a base mole-hill; and himself is like a blind mole, digging in it. Yea in this very world, his own proper element, how little doth he truly perceive! There is no herb or flower he treads on, that he truly knows. Yea he is a stranger at home, and is ignorant of what is in his own bosom. But for things that concern a better world, he hath no insight. The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto 1him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Those things are incredible, impossible to him, which we build our faiths on. Happy then are their eyes that see these things. In matters of the world our simplicity moves pity, or makes sport: let it content us, that ⟨p. 296⟩these losses are requited by our spiritual knowledge, seeing further into better matters. That wherein we are ignorant, is transient & contemptible: that which we know, is glorious and eternal. The ignorance of the former shall not hinder our blessedness; the knowledge of the other shall accomplish it.
The eye of Faith sees further then both the former; for it lookes into the hope of our calling, and the glorious inheritance of the Saints. The Christian hath not onely an eye of Sense cōmon with beasts; nor an eye of reason common with men; but also an eye of faith proper to his profession. Wherein he goes beyond the naturall man, further then the naturall man goes beyond the beast. The vnregenerate liuesall his dayes in a mist: he cannot looke vp to heauen; in comparison whereof that world he sees, is but a base moale-hill; and himselfe is like a blind moale, digging in it. Yea in this very world, his owne proper element, how little doth he truely perceiue! There is no herbe or flower hee treads on, that he truely knowes. Yea he is a stranger at home, and is ignorant of what is in his owne bosome. But for things that concerne a better world, he hath no insight. The naturall man perceiueth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishnesse vnto