A12166:222
Beams of divine light breaking forth from several places of holy Scripture, as they…Beames of divine light breaking forth from severall places of holy Scripture, as they…
Beams of divine light breaking forth from several places of holy Scripture, as they were learnedly opened, in XXI. sermons. The III. first being the fore-going sermons to that treatise called The bruised-reed, preached on the precedent words. By the late reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibs, D.D. Mr. of Katharine Hall in Camb: and sometimes preacher at Gray's Inn. Published according to the Doctor his own appointment subscribed with his hand; to prevent imperfect copies.Beames of divine light breaking forth from severall places of holy Scripture, as they were learnedly opened, in XXI. sermons. The III. first being the fore-going sermons to that treatise called The bruised-reed, preached on the precedent words. By the late reverend and iudicious divine, Richard Sibs, D.D. Mr. of Katharine Hall in Camb: and sometimes preacher at Grayes Inne. Published according to the Doctor his owne appointment subscribed with his hand; to prevent imperfect coppies.
London: printed by George for N. Bourne, 1639
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 what a staggering will this be to conscience, when a man shall defer his repentance till Gods judgements seize upon him? We see it is false for the most part: Because such persons that are then humbled, when they recover, they are as bad, or worse then ever they were. Therefore an Ancient saith well. He that is good only under the cross, it never good, it comes not from any change that God works; but merely from self-love. Therefore presently let us repent of those ways that God convinceth our conscience to be evil ways: ⟨p. 94⟩God may strike us suddenly: Those that forget God, and care not for him now, it may be just with God to make them forget themselves, to strike them with frenzy, to take away the use of their memories then, and when sickness comes, we shall have enough to do to conflict with sickness, we shall have enough to do to answer the doubts of conscience, Oh it would upbraid then! We shall think it a hard matter then to have favour from God, whose worship we have despised, the motions of whose Spirit we have neglected and resisted. Conscience after long hardening in sin will hardly admit of comfort,1 it is a harder matter then it is taken for: Therefore even to day, presently you that are young, now in the days of your youth, now in the spring of your years, repent you of your sins, before old-age comes, which indeed as Solomon describes it, is an ill time to repent in. Alas! then a man can hardly perform civill duties, (as we see in Barzillai, he complains that in his old-age, he could not take the comfort of the creatures) Therefore put not off this duty till then. And all, both young and old, now when the judgements of God are abroad in the world, take the advantage, return to God, renew your covenants, make your peace now, now this danger doth warm our hearts a little, let us strike the Iron now while it is hot, let us take the advantage of the Spirit now awakening us with this danger. Our hearts are so false and ⟨p. 95⟩so dull we have need to take all advantages of withdrawing our selves from our sinful courses.
And what a staggering will this be to conscience, when a man shall deferre his repentance till Gods judgements seaze upon him? We see it is false for the most part: Because such persons that are then humbled, when they recover, they are as bad, or worse then ever they were. Therfore an Ancient saith well. He that is good onely under the crosse, it never good, it comes not from any change that God works; but meerely from selfe-love. Therefore presently let us repent of those waies that God convinceth our conscience to be evill wayes: