A01956:920
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.
Many great virtues were found among the Samaritans; Faith, Charity. Thankfulness: First, Faith; *Many of the Samaritans of that City believed on him. Secondly, Charity; It was the Samaritan that took compassion on the man wounded between Jerusalem and Jericho. The Priest and the Levite passed by him without pity, but the Samaritan obound up his wounds. Thirdly, Gratitude exemplified in this Samaritan Leper: none of the Jews ⟨p. 402⟩gave God praise for their healing, but only the Samaritan. It was strange that in Gentiles should be found such virtue, where it was least looked for. pVerily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel. The least informed did prove the best reformed. Samaritan was held a word of reproach amongst the Jews; as appears by their malicious imputation to Christ. qSay we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a Devil? They were esteemed as dogs: rIt is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And at the first promulgation of the Gospel, the Apostles received a manifest prohibition; sGo not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any City of the Samaritans enter ye not. It was therefore rare to reap such fruits out of the wild Forrest, cursed like the mountains of Gilboa; tLet there be no dew, neither rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. To be good in good company is little wonder: for Angels to be good in heaven, Adam in Paradise, Judas in Christs College, had been no admirable matter: to apostate in these places so exemplary of goodness, was intolerable weakness. But for Abraham to be good in Chaldee, Noah in the old world, Lot in Sodom: for a man now to be humble in Spain, continent in France, chaste in Venice, sober in Germany, temperate in England; this is the commendation. Such a one is a Lilly in a Forrest of thorns, a handful of wheat in a field of cockle. Let me not here omit two things, worthy my insertion, and your observation.