A01956:803
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.
As much might be said for Oppression; thy depopulations pull down the Country, that thou mayest build up thy posterity. Which way canst thou turn thine eyes from beholding the infatuation of such hopes? One generation is thus raised up high; and the next comes down as low, even to contempt and beggary.
As much might be said for Oppression; thy depopulations pull downe the Countrey, that thou mayest build vp thy posteritie. Which way canst thou turne thine eyes from beholding the infatuation of such hopes? One generation is thus raised vp high; and the next comes downe as lowe, euen to contempt and beggerie.
But perhaps if thou hast no children, yet thou hast a brother. cThere is one alone, and there is not a second: yea, he hath neither child nor brother, yet is there no end of his labour. Say thou hast a brother, yet is not Christ thy brother in Heaven, dearer to thee then any son of thy mother? Is not he that hath adopted thee coheir to his eternal purchase, an inheritance of glory, worthy of some part of thy earthly possessions? Never brother did so much for thee as he hath done. Nature made a man thy brother in thy Parents blood; he made thee his brother by his own blood. Remember then his needy brethren, and in him thine. He is nearest in blood, that is dearest in good: but if thou hast any faith, none did thee ever so much good as Christ. And to take away all plea from the hart of uncharitableness, Christ calls the poor his Brethren, affirms their relievers Blessed, and invites them to an everlasting kingdom. dIn as much as ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. But thou hast a brother in the flesh: wilt thou therefore covet, extort, oppress, and so go to hell for thy brother? It is ill done in any to divert amorem fratris, in odium sui; ⟨p. 338⟩the love of his brother into hate against himself. Yet is not this all, but when thou hast purposed most for thy brother, God shall disappoint him of all. Whose shall these things be? no not thy brothers.