A01956:704
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.
Spiritual blindness shall appear the more perilous, if ⟨p. 297⟩we compare it with natural. The bodies eye may be better spared then the souls. As to want the eyes of Angels, is far worse then to want the eyes of beasts. The want of corporal sight is often good, not evil: evil in the sense, good in the consequence. He may the better intend heavenly things, that sees no earthly to draw him away. Many a mans eye hath done him hurt. The sons of God 1saw the daughters of men. David from the roof of his Palace saw Bathsheba. Per oculorum beneficium intrat cordis veneficium. The lightning of lust hath scorched the heart through those windows. Malus oculus, malus animus. An evil eye makes an evil mind. The Apostle speaks of eyes full of adultery: it is a fearful thing to have an eye great with whoredom. And there be eyes full of covetousness, lusting after the grounds and goods of other men: as Ahab's eye was full of Naboth's vineyard. But non tutum est conspicere, quod non licitum est concupiscere. Let not thine eye be enamoured of that, which thy heart must not covet. You see therefore, that sometimes the loss of corporal sight doth the soul good: and the eye of faith sees the better, because the eye of flesh sees not at all.
Spirituall blindnes shall appeare the more perilous, if ⟨p. 297⟩we compare it with naturall. The bodies eye may be better spared then the soules. As to want the eyes of Angels, is farre worse then to want the eyes of beasts. The want of corporal sight is often good, not euill: euil in the sense, good in the consequence. He may the better intend heauenly things, that sees no earthly to drawe him away. Many a mans eye hath done him hurt. The sonnes of God 1saw the daughters of men. Dauid from the roofe of his Palace saw Bethshabe. Per oculorum beneficium intrat cordis veneficium. The lightning of lust hath scorched the heart through those windowes. Malus oculus, malus animus. An euill eye makes an euill mind. The Apostle speakes of eyes full of adultery: it is a feareful thing to haue an eye great with whoredome. And there be eyes full of couetousnesse, lusting after the grounds and goods of other men: as Ahabs eye was full of Nabaoths vineyard. But non tutum est conspicere, quod non licitum est concupiscere. Let not thine eye be enamoured of that, which thy heart must not couet. You see therefore, that sometimes the losse of corporall sight doth the soule good: and the eye of faith sees the better, because the eye of flesh sees not at all.