A02367:579
The sacrifice of thankfulness A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, the third of December,…The sacrifice of thankefulnesse A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the third of December,…
The sacrifice of thankfulness A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, the third of December, being the first Aduentuall Sunday, anno 1615. By Tho. Adams. Whereunto are annexed five other of his sermons preached in London, and else-where; never before printed. ...The sacrifice of thankefulnesse A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the third of December, being the first Aduentuall Sunday, anno 1615. By Tho. Adams. Whereunto are annexed fiue other of his sermons preached in London, and else-where; neuer before printed. ...
London: printed by Thomas Purfoot for Clement Knight, 1616
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE THREE DIVINE SISTERS. › CharityTHE THREE DIVINE SISTERS. › Charitie
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.
Charity
Charitie
IS an excellent virtue, and therefore rare: if ever in this contentious age; wherein Fratrum quoque gratia rara est: the unfained love of brothers is strange. Woe is me; before I am come to define what love is, I am fallen into a declamation against the want of it: what is here chiefly commended, is chiefly contemned: as if we had no need of mutual succour; nor could spare a room in our hearts to entertain Charity, lest we should expel our old loved guests, fraud, malice, and ambition. Love hath two proper objects, the one immediate and principal; the other, mediate and limited.
IS an excellent vertue, and therefore rare: if euer in this contentious age; wherein Fratrum quoque gratia rara est: the vnfained loue of brothers is strange. Wo is mee; before I am come to define what loue is, I am falne into a declamation against the want of it: what is heere chiefly commended, is chiefly contemned: as if wee had no need of mutuall succour; nor could spare a roome in our hearts to entertaine Charitie, lest wee should expell our old loued guests, fraud, malice, and ambition. Loue hath two proper obiects, the one immediate and principall; the other, mediate and limitted.
The proper and immediate object of our Love, is God. This is the great Commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength. As if he would not leave out the east sinew or string of the heart, the least faculty or power of the soul, the least organ or action of the strength. So Bern. With all the heart, that is, affectionately. With all the Soul, that is, wisely. With all the strength, that is, constantly. Let the zeal of thy heart inflame thy love to God, let the wisdom of thy soul guide it, let the strength of thy might confirm it. All the affection of the heart, all the election of the soul, all the administration of the body. The Soul judgeth, the Will prosecutes, the strength executes. God can brook no rivals: no division betwixt him and Mammon, betwixt him and Melchom, betwixt him and Baal, betwixt him and Belial. Causa dilige di Deum Deus est, modus sine modo. The cause and motive to love God, is God: the manner, is without measure. Minus amatte, qui aliquid amat praeterte, quod non amat propter te, Hee poorly loves God, that loves any thing besides him, which he doth not love for him.