A01956:760
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.
In the Church surely Religion should have the strongest force; yet riches thrusts in her head even under Religions arm, and speaks her mind. Money once brought the greatest Preacher of the Gospel, even the Author of the Gospel, Christ himself, to be judged before an earthly Tribunal. Now the Servant is not greater then his Lord: no wonder if money plays the rex still, and disposeth places to men of the greatest worldly (not the best heavenly) gifts. For a gift prospereth which way soever it goeth. It were somewhat tolerable, if money did only hinder us from what we should have; but it wrings from us also what we have.
In the Church surely Religion should haue the strongest force; yet riches thrusts in her head euen vnder Religions arme, and speakes her mind. Money once brought the greatest Preacher of the Gospell, euen the Author of the Gospell, Christ himselfe, to be iudged before an earthly Tribunall. Now the Seruant is not greater then his Lord: no wonder if money playes the rex still, and disposeth places to men of the greatest worldly (not the best heauenly) gifts. For a gift prospereth which way soeuer it goeth. It were somewhat tolerable, if money did only hinder vs from what we should haue; but it vvrings from vs also what we haue.
In the Courts of Justice, Law should rule: yet often money over-rules law and Court too. It is a lamentable complaint in the Prophecy of Isaiah: sJudgement is turned away backward, and Justice standeth a far off: for truth is fallen in the street; and equity cannot enter. If there must be contention, judgement should go forward; and is it turned backward? Justice should lay a close ear to the cause of the distressed; and must it stand a far off? Truth is fallen in the street. O the mercy of God! in the street? Had it fallen in the wilderness, it had been less strange; but in the street, where every body passeth by, and no body take it up! miserable iniquity. Equity cannot enter; what, not equity? Are they not called Courts of Equity? and must that which gives them denomination, be kept out? Now all this perversion, eversion of Justice is made ⟨p. 318⟩