A02367:593
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.
2 If Charity be greater then faith, then is not man justified by faith only. Inconsequent illation. Saint Paul commends not love for the virtue of Justification: it may fail in that particular action, yet receive no impeachment to the excellency of it. By demonstration. A Prince doth excel a peasant: shall any man therefore infer, that he can plough better, or have more skill in tillage. A Philosopher doth excel a Mechanic; though he cannot grind so well as a Miller, or lim so cunningly as a Painter. A man is better then a beast: who but a mad-man will therefore conclude, that he can run faster then a horse, draw more then an ox, or carry a greater burden then an Elephant. Though he fail in these particular arts, yet none will deny, but he is better then a beast.
2 If Charity be greater then faith, then is not man iustified by faith onely. Inconsequent illation. Saint Paul commends not loue for the vertue of Iustification: it may fayle in that particular action, yet receiue no impeachment to the excellency of it. By demonstration. A Prince doth excell a peasant: shall any man therefore inferre, that hee can plow better, or haue more skill in tillage. A Philosopher doth excell a Mechanicke; though he cannot grinde so well as a Miller, or lim so cunningly as a Painter. A man is better then a beast: who but a mad-man will therefore conclude, that hee can runne faster then a horse, draw more then an oxe, or carry a greater burden then an Elephant. Though he fayle in these particular arts, yet none will deny, but hee is better then a beast.
The truth is, that in Faith stands originally our fellowship ⟨p. 15⟩with God. Into that hand he poureth the riches of his mercy for salvation: and were the actions of Charity never so great, and (foolishly thought) meritorious; yet, if not the effects of a true saving Faith, they are lost, and a man may for his Charity go to the Devil. And though they would plead from the form of the last judgement, Math. 25. that God accepts men to life for their deeds of Charity: feeding, clothing, relieving. Yet the Scripture fully testifies, that God neither accepts these, nor our selves for these, further then they are the effects of a true faith. Our persons being first justified by faith in Christ, then God will crown our works. Yet a Christian must work: for no nudifidian, so well as no nullifidian, shall be admitted into heaven. Therefore saith the Apostle,