A01956:790
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.
1. In the Night; this aggravates the horror of his judgement. The night is a sad and uncomfortable time: therefore misery is compared to the Night, and joy said to come in the Morning. Pray that your flight be not in the night, saith Christ to the Jews; as if the dismal time would make desperate their sorrow. The night presents to the fantasy, which then lies most patient of such impressions, many deceiving and affrightful imaginations. Well then may a true (not fantasied) terror work strongly on this wretches heart, whiles the night helps it forward. All sickness is generally stronger by night, then by day: this very circumstance of season then aggravates his misery; making at once his grief stronger, himself weaker.
1. In the Night; this aggrauates the horror of his iudgement. The night is a sad and vncomfortable time: therefore misery is compared to the Night, and ioy said to come in the Morning. Pray that your flight be not in the night, saith Christ to the Iewes; as if the dismall time would make desperate their sorow. The night presents to the fantasie, which then lies most patient of such impressions, many deceiuing and affrightfull imaginations. Well then may a true (not fantasied) terror worke strongly on this wretches heart, whiles the night helps it forward. All sicknesse is generally stronger by night, then by day: this very circumstance of season then aggrauates his miserie; making at once his greefe stronger, himselfe vveaker.
But what if we look further then the literal sense; ⟨p. 329⟩and conceive by this night the darkness of his soul? Such a blindness as he brings on himself, though the day of the Gospel be broke round about him. The cause of night to a man, is the interposition of the earth betwixt him and the Sun. This worldling hath placed the earth, the thick and gross body of riches, between his eyes and the Sun of righteousness. And so shine the Sun never so clear, it is still night with him. There is light enough without him, but there is darkness too much within him. And then darkness must to darkness; inward to outward, as Christ calls it, utter darkness. He would not see whiles he might, he shall not see when he would. Though he shall for ever have fire enough, yet it shall give him no light: except it be a little glimmering, to show him the torments of others, and others the torments of himself.