A01956:833
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
THE BAD LEAVEN: OR, THE CONTAGION OF SIN.THE BAD LEAVEN: OR, THE CONTAGION OF SINNE.
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 former he compares Christianity to a race: all men must first be viatores in this valley of tears, before they can be Assessors, and sit with Christ in his kingdom of glory. Only as it agrees with a Race in many things; as labour, it's no idle thing to be a Christian; shortness, it is a Race, the perplexity is recompensed with the brevity: continuance, the runner must hold out the last steppe, if he will obtain the prize. So there are some differences. 1. In other races many run, only one wins the goal: but in this all that run faithfully, shall reign triumphantly. Though they cannot run so fast as others, nor so far as others; yet even they that came at the eleventh hour into the Vineyard, received they penny, so well as they that came at the third. For the Lord regards not Quantum, but ex quanto: not how much, but how well. What ever hour they are called, let them spend the aftertime in a zealous diligence. 2. In other races one hinders another, but in this journey one helps another. The more the merrier: no envy or grudging, either in the way or the goal. Dispar gloria singulorum, sed communis latitia omnium. There may be different glory of some, yet there is a common joy of all. Every ⟨p. 353⟩good man is a spur to his brother. Peter and John ran to Christs Sepulchre: John out-ran Peter unto the grave, Peter out-went John into the grave. But we run together unto Christs Throne; some come before, some after, all meet in the Communion of Saints. 3. In other races the runner obtains a prize that shall perish; all the runners here get an incorruptible crown. They run for a little prize, a little praise; we for eternal glory. Run we then cheerfully; behold, a kingdom lies at the stake. God give us all eyes of faith to see it, and hearts of obedience to run to it, through the power of Jesus Christ.
In the former he compares Christianity to a race: all men must first be viatores in this valley of teares, before they can be Assess•res, and sit with Christ in his kingdome of glory. Onely as it agrees with a Race in many things; as labor, it's no idle thing to be a Christian; shortnesse, it is a Race, the perplexity is recompenced vvith the breuity: continuance, the runner must hold out the last steppe, if he will obtaine the prize. So there are some differences. 1. In other races many runne, onely one winnes the goale: but in this all that runne faithfully, shal raigne triumphantly. Though they cannot runne so fast as others, nor so farre as others; yet euen they that came at the eleuenth houre into the Vineyard, receiued they penny, so well as they that came at the third. For the Lord regards not Quantum, but ex quanto: not how much, but how well. What euer houre they are called, let them spend the aftertime in a zealous diligence. 2. In other races one hinders another, but in this iourney one helpes another. The more the merrier: no enuy or grudging, eyther in the way or the goale. Dispar gloria singulorum, sed communis latitia omnium. There may bee different glory of some, yet there is a common ioy of all. Euery