A01956:957
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.
And Breve videbitur tempus tantis variet atibus occupatum: that time must needs seem short, that is spent in such variety of delights. It was the principal of those three faults, whereof Cato professed himself to have so seriously repented. One was, passing ⟨p. 420⟩by water, when he might go by land: another was, trusting a secret to a woman: but the main one was, spending an hour unprofitably. How many hours, not only on common days, but even upon the holy Sabbath, that concerns the business of our souls, have we unprofitably lavished, and yet never heartily repented them?
And Breue videbitur tempus tantis variet atibus occupatum: that time must needs seem short, that is spent in such variety of delights. It was the principall of those three faults, whereof Cato professed himselfe to haue so seriously repented. One was, passing ⟨p. 420⟩by water, when he might goe by land: another was, trusting a secret to a woman: but the maine one was, spending an houre vnprofitably. How many houres, not only on common dayes, but euen vpon the holy Sabbath, that concernes the businesse of our soules, haue vvee vnprofitably lauished, and yet neuer heartilie repented them?
2. The Conveniency; if we Go, we must have feet. All our Preaching is to beat the bush, put you from your coverts, and set you a going: but now Quitus pedibus? on what feet must you go? The Foot is the Affection or Appetite, saith S. Augustine. Eô feror, quocunque feror: that carries me, whither soever I go. The foot moves the body, the affection moves the soul. The regenerate soul hath three principal faculties, as the natural body hath three semblable members: the eye, hand, and foot. In the soul the Eye is Knowledge, the Hand is Faith, the Foot is Obedience. The soul without knowledge is like Bartimeus, blind: without faith, like the man with a withered hand: without obedience, like Mephibosheth, lame.