A01956:925
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
FAITHS ENCOURAGEMENT. › Arise.FAITHS ENCOVRAGEMENT. › Arise.
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.
Arise.
The Leper casts himself down, and Christ bids him arise. Humility is the Gentleman Usher to Glory. God (that sends away the rich empty from his gates) loves to ifill the hungry with good things. The air passeth by the full vessel, and only filleth that is empty. This is the difference between the poor and beggars: both agree in not having, differ in craving. The proud are Pauperes Spiritus, the humble are, pauperes spiritu: kBlessed are (not the poor spirits, but) the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Such as felt their wants, sought, and besought God for supply. lEvery Valley shall be filled, and every Mountain be brought low. The lowly mind shall be exalted, the high-towering ambitious shall be thrown down. How should God say to the Merchant that glories in his wealth, to the Usurer that admireth his moneys, to the Gallant, that ⟨p. 406⟩wonders that his good clothes do not prefer him: Arise! alas, they are up already, they were never down. A dwarf in a great throng seeming low on his knees, was bidden by the Prince to stand up: alas, he was before at his highest. God cannot be so mistaken, as to encourage their standing up, who never yet had the manners to cast themselves down. Descendite ut ascendatis ad Deum: cecidistis enim ascendendo contra eu•. 4Descend, that ye may rise up to God: for you have fallen by rising up against God. He that is a Mountebank, must level himself even with the ground: if humbleness hath once thrown him down, and brought him on his knees, he shall hear the Patron and pattern of humbleness, comforting him with a Surge; Arise.