A01956:805
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.
But say, thy friends stick truer to thee, and one holds thy aching head, another runs for Physic, a third, by helping thee to change sides, seeks to mitigate thy pains; yet still thou complainest of unremedied torments. Oh then hadst thou not better make the God of comfort thy friend; who would neither be wanting in his presence, nor scanting in his consolations?
But say, thy friendes sticke truer to thee, and one holds thy aking head, another runnes for Physike, a third, by helping thee to change sides, seekes to mitigate thy paines; yet still thou complainest of vnremedied torments. Oh then hadst thou not better make the God of comfort thy friend; vvho would neither be wanting in his presence, nor scanting in his consolations?
Worldly friends are but like hot water, that when cold weather comes, are soonest frozen. Like Cuckoos, all Summer they will sing a scurvy note to thee, but they are gone in July at furthest: sure enough before the fall. They flatter a rich man, as we feed beasts, till he be fat, and then feed on him. A true friend reproves thee erring, though perhaps not suddenly. Iron is first heat, then beaten: first let him be heat with due and deserved praise for his good, ⟨p. 339⟩then cool and work him with reprehension for his evil. As Nurses when their children are fallen, first take them up, and speak them fair; and chide or correct them afterwards. These friends love not thy souls good, but thy bodies goods: let them not carry away thy hart from Christ. But if thou so resolvest, that these friends shall enjoy thy riches: yet God saith, Cuius erunt, whose shall they be? Thy kindred or friends shall not eat the grapes of thy planted vineyard: no, a stranger shall eat thereof. gGod giveth not thee power to eat thereof; no nor him thou desirest; but a stranger eateth it. Dabitur digniori, it shall be given to one good in Gods sight. Perhaps to such a mans posterity, whom thou now scornest. The h