A01956:750
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.
Mens thoughts promise often to themselves, Multa magna; many things, great things: they are plotted, contrived, commenced; yet die like Jonah's Gourd, when we should expect their refreshing: Quia non fort•it Deus, because God hath not blessed them. Ambition may rear turrets in emulation of heaven: and vain-glory build Castles in the air; but the former shall have no roof, as the latter hath no foundation. Philip threatened the Lacedaemonians, that if he entered their Country, he would utterly extinguish them. They wrote him no other answer but Si, If: meaning, it was a condition well put in, for he never was like to come there. Si S I non esset, perfectum quidlibet esset. But in the menaces of angry Tyrants, and purposes of hasty intenders, there is an If, an included condition, that infatuates all. Let our lesson hence be this.
Mens thoughts promise often to themselues, Multa magna; many things, great things: they are plotted, contriued, commenced; yet die like Ionah's Gourd, when we should expect their refreshing: Quia non fort•it Deus, because God hath not blessed them. Ambition may reare turrets in emulation of heauen: and vaine-glory build Castles in the ayre; but the former shall haue no roofe, as the latter hath no foundation. Philip threatned the Lacedemonians, that if he entred their Countrey, he would vtterly extinguish them. They wrote him no other answere but Si, If: meaning, it was a condition well put in, for hee neuer was like to come there. Si S I non esset, perfectum quidlibet esset. But in the menaces of angry Tyrants, and purposes of hastie intenders, there is an If, an included cōdition, that infatuates all. Let our lesson hence be this.
That our purposes may be sped with a happy success, let us intend in the Lord, for the Lord. 1. Let us derive authority of our intentions from his sacred Truth; which gives rules not only to live well, and to speak well, but even ad bene c•gitandum, to think well. It is a wicked purpose to fast till Paul be killed; to wreak malice, to satisfy lust. Inauspicious and without speed are the intents, whose beginning is not from God. Let no purpose pass currant from thy heart, till God hath set on it his stamp and seal of approbation: Let his Word give it a Fiat: