A01956:720
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.
3. That there be a proportional distance betwixt the organ and the object: neither too near, nor too far off. A bright thing held too near the sight, confounds it: be it never so bright, if too far off, it cannot discern it. God hath sweetly ordered and compounded this difference. Those everlasting joys are not close by our eyes, lest the glory should swallow us up: for mortal eyes cannot behold immortal things; nor our corruptible sight see steadfastly that eternal splendour. Who can see God, and live? And though you say, it is the soul that sees; yet even this soul, whiles it is prisoned in this muddy veil, or rather Jail, the flesh, hath by reason of the others impotency and passibleness, a thick cloud cast between it self and glory. oFor now we see through a glass darkly: but then face to face. Now I know in part, then shall I know, even as also I am known. The best eye upon earth looks but through a glass, a lattice, an obscuring impediment. Now on the other side, lest this object should be too far off, that the intellectual eye could not reach it, behold, God hath given it the first fruits; pRighteousness, peace of conscience, and joy of the holy Ghost; a prelibation of glory. It sees the earnest of the Spirit, sealing us up to the day of redemption; a pledge of those joys, which otherwise no eye hath seen, no ear heard, nor heart on earth conceived.
3. That there be a proportionall distance betwixt the organ and the obiect: neither too neere, nor too far off. A bright thing held too neere the sight, confounds it: be it neuer so bright, if too farre off, it cannot discerne it. God hath sweetly ordered and compounded this difference. Those euerlasting ioyes are not close by our eyes, lest the glory should swallow vs vp: for mortall eyes cannot behold immortall things; nor our corruptible sight see stedfastly that eternall splendor. Who can see God, and liue? And though you say, it is the soule that sees; yet euen this soule, whiles it is prisoned in this muddy vaile, or rather Iayle, the flesh, hath by reason of the others impotency and passiblenesse, a thicke cloud cast betweene it selfe and glory. oFor now wee see through a glasse darkely: but then face to face. Now I know in part, then shall I know, euen as also I am knowne. The best eye vpon earth lookes but through a glasse, a lattice, an obscuring impediment. Now on the other side, lest this obiect should be too farre off, that the intellectuall eye could not reach it, behold, God hath giuen it the first fruits;