A01956:794
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. There is mercy in God, that it is hac nocte, this night; not this hour, not this moment. Hac nocte was suddaine, but hoc momento had been more sudden; and that this larger exhibition of time is allowed, was Gods mere mercy, against the worldlings merit. He that spared Nineveh many forties of years, will yet allow her forty days. He that forbore this wretch many days, receiving 1no fruit worth his expectation, will yet add a few hours. God in the midst of justice remembers mercy: much time he had received, and abused; yet he shall have a little more. When the Lords hand is lifted up to strike him, yet he gives him some lucida interualla monitionis, warning before he lets it down. But let not the worldling presume on this: sometimes, not an hour, not a minute is granted. Sword, Palsy, Apoplexy, Impostume makes quick dispatch: and there is no space given to cry for mercy. But what if a paucity of hours be permitted? ancient wounds are not cured in haste, the plaster must lie long upon them. There was one man so saved, to take away desperation: and but one so saved, to 2bar presumption. Conversion at the eleventh hour is a wonder, at the twelfth a miracle. All thieves do not go from the gallows to glory, because one did; no more then all Asses speak, because God opened the mouth of one. Flatter not thy self with hope of time. Nemo ⟨p. 331⟩sibi promittat, quod non promittit Evangelium. Let no man 3promise himself a larger patent, then the Gospel hath sealed to him.
1. There is mercy in God, that it is hac nocte, this night; not this houre, not this moment. Hac nocte vvas suddaine, but hoc momento had beene more sudden; and that this larger exhibition of time is allowed, was Gods meere mercy, against the worldlings merit. He that spared Niniueh many forties of yeares, will yet allow her forty daies. He that forbore this wretch many daies, receiuing 1no fruit worth his expectation, will yet adde a few houres. God in the midst of iustice remembers mercie: much time he had receiued, and abused; yet he shall haue a little more. When the Lords hand is lifted vp to strike him, yet he giues him some lucida interualla monitionis, warning before he lets it downe. But let not the worldling presume on this: sometimes, not an houre, not a minute is granted. Sword, Palsie, Apoplexie, Impostume makes quicke dispatch: and there is no space giuen to cry for mercy. But what if a paucity of houres be permitted? ancient wounds are not cured in haste, the plaister must lie long vpon them. There was one man so saued, to take away desperation: and but one so saued, to