A01956:860
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.
Of this Satan is the efficient cause: the father of lies never loved the Father of Truth. Wicked and perverse men are the instrumental causes: they are so over-wise, that the curdle of their wit procures a breaking out into faction. Cùm discipuli veritatis non erunt, magistri erroris sunt. Refusing to be the scholars of Truth, they become the Schoolmasters of error. So the precedent cause in such, is self-love, the cause that grows out of the other, and nearer to the main effect (or rather defect) is discō tent. If the Church forget them in dealing her legacies of preferment, they will tear her bowels for it. If their mother pleaseth not their humours with an expected indulgence, they will be so bold as kick her sides. Pride steps in for a third cause: unless I forget her place, for she disdains an inferior room; and yet of all sins, as none presumes higher, so none is thrust lower, even xto the bottomless pit. Saint John doth witness thus much of Diotrephes. aI wrote unto the Church, but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. He is called by Bede, Haeresiarcha superbus. Hypocrisy must needs be admitted for a fourth motive to heresy. Applause must be had, if not by being good, yet by seeming so. Omnes haeretici sunt hypocrit•, saith Jerome, ⟨p. 368⟩Every heretic is an hypocrite. Like Vipers they never come to light, but with some rupture to the womb of their mother.
Of this Satan is the efficient cause: the father of lyes neuer lou'd the Father of Truth. Wicked and peruerse men are the instrumentall causes: they are so ouer-vvise, that the curdle of their wit procures a breaking out into faction. Cùm discipuli veritatis non erunt, magistri erroris sunt. Refusing to be the scholers of Truth, they become the Schoolemasters of errour. So the precedent cause in such, is selfe-loue, the cause that growes out of the other, and neerer to the maine effect (or rather defect) is discō tent. If the Church forget thēm in dealing her legacies of preferment, they will teare her bowels for it. If their mother pleaseth not their humours with an expected indulgence, they will be so bold as kick her sides. Pride steps in for a third cause: vnlesse I forget her place, for shee disdaines an inferiour roome; and yet of all sinnes, as none presumes higher, so none is thrust lower, euen