A01956:918
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.
2 He commends him: of all the ten cleansed, cthere are none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. God had his Tithe there, whence he might least expect it. Now what doth Christ commend him for? For his thankfulness, for his humility, for his faith: why these graces were Christs own; doth he praise him for that himself had given him? Yes, this is Gods custom; Sua dona coronat; he crowns his own graces, he rewards his own gifts. Which teacheth how we should understand Reward in the Scripture. dCall the labourers, and give them their hire. eWhosoever gives a cup of cold water to a Disciple, shall not lose his reward. This hire and reward, is not the stipend of our labours, but of Gods love. He gives us the good of grace, and then rewards it with the good of glory. It is a reward Secundum quid, a gift simpliciter. Compare eternal life to the work, looking no farther, it is a reward. fRejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. But examine the Original from whence it proceeds, then it is the gift of God. gEternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ. He is said to hShow mercy to them that keep his Commandments: the very keeping the Commandments is not merit, it hath need of mercy. Lo thus the Lord gives grace, then praiseth it, blesseth it, rewards it. Christ clotheth his Spouse with his own igarments, the smell of Myrrh, Aloes, and Cassia; A white robe of his perfect righteousness imputed; with his golden merits, and inestimable Jewels of graces; and ⟨p. 401⟩then praiseth her; kThou art all fair, my Love: there is no spot in thee. When God made the world, with all creatures in it, he beheld it, and Euge bonum; behold, it is exceeding good: so when he makes a Christian (Maiorem, meliorem mundo) and hath furnished him with competent graces, he turns back and looks upon his own workmanship; Ecce bonum, it is exceeding good: he forbears not to commend it.