The Temple, Title page – Dedication
THE TEMPLE.
A Sermon Preached at PAVLS Croſſe the fifth of Auguſt. 1624.
BY THO. ADAMS.
LONDON, Printed by A. Mathewes for Iohn Griſmand, and are to bee ſold at his Shop in Pauls Alley at the Signe of the Gunne. 1624.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, SIR HENRY CAREY, Lord HVNSDON, Viſcount Rochford.
MY LORD,
AMong the many abſurdities, which giuegive vsus iuſt cauſe to abhorre the Religion of the preſent Roman Church, this ſeemeth to me none of the leaſt; that they hauehave filled all the Temples vnderunder the commaund of their politike Hierarchy, with Idols: and changed the glory of the Inuiſible God, into the worſhip of viſible Images. They inuocate the Saints by them, yea they dare not ſerue the Lord without them. As if God had repealed his vnchangcable Law; and in ſtead of condemning all worſhip by an Image, would now receiue no worſhip without an Image. I hauehave obſerued this one, among the other famous markes of that Synagogue; that they ſtriue to condemne that which God hath iuſtified, and to iuſtifie what he hath condemned. For the former; He hath preciſely directed our Iuſtification only by faith in the merits of Chriſt: this they vehemently diſpute againſt. For the other; He hath (not without mention of his Ielouſie) forbidden all worſhip that hath the leaſt tang of Idolatry: this they eagerly maintaine. What large Volumes hauehave they written againſt the Second Commaundement! as if they were not content to expunge it out of their Catechiſmes, vnleſſe they did alſo Dogmaticè contradict it to the whole world. They firſt ſet the people vponupon a plaine rebellion, & then make ſhew to fetch them off again with a neat diſtinction. Thus doe they pumpe their wits to legitimate that by a diſtinction, which God hath pronounced a Baſtard by his definitiue ſentēce: as if the Papall Decrees were that law, wherby the world ſhould bee iudged at the laſt day. But who will regard a houſe of magnificent ſtructure, of honorable & ancient memory, when the plague hath infected it, or theeues poſſeſſe it? And who, in their right ſenſes, will ioyne themſelues to that Temple, which after pretence of long ſtanding, ſtately building, and of many ſuch prerogatiues and royalties, is foūd to be beſmeared with ſuperſtitions, and profaned with innumerable Idols? Why ſhould wee delight to dwell there, where God hath refuſed to dwell with vsus.
I publiſh this argument as no new thing to your Lordſhip: but, wherin your well experienced knowledge is able to informe mee. OnelyOnly I hauehave beene bold, through your thrice honoured Name, to tranſmit this ſmall Diſcourſe to the world: emboldened by the long proofe I hauehave had of your conſtant louelove to the Truth, and the gracious Pietie of your moſt noble Mother, the beſt encouragement of my poore labours on earth. The beſt bleſsings of God bee ſtill multiplied vponupon her, your ſelfe, your religious Lady, and your honorable Family: which is continually implored by
Your Lordſhips humble Seruant. THO. ADAMS.