A12166:257
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.
What their wisdom is we see by experience: in winter to fly from hard and cold parts to those where there is a Spring, They are here in the moderate season, and when the Summer is gone, they go to a more moderate air, where they may live better. For the life is the chief good of such poor creatures, and their happiness being determined in their life, they labour to keep that: they have an instinct put in them by God to preserve their being by removing from place to place, and to use that that may keep life.
What their wisedome is we see by experience: in winter to fly from hard and cold parts to those where there is a Spring, They are here in the moderate season, and when the Summer is gone, they goe to a more moderate aire, where they may live better. For the life is the chiefe good of such poore creatures, and their happinesse being determined in their life, they labour to keepe that: they have an instinct put in them by God to preserve their being by remooving from place to place, and to use that that may keepe life.
Now man is made for a better life, and there be dangers concerning the soul in another world, yet he is not so wise for his soul and his best being, as the poor creatures are to preserve their being by the instinct of nature. When sharp weather comes they avoid it and go where a better season is, and a better temper of the air: but man when Gods judgements are threatened and sent on him, and God would have him part with his sinful courses, ⟨p. 114⟩[…] ⟨p. 115⟩[…] ⟨p. 116⟩and is ready to fire him, and to force him out of them: yet he is not so careful as the creatures; He will rather perish and die, and rot in his sins, and settle upon his dregs, then alter his course: so he is more sottish then the silly creatures, he will not go into a better estate, to the heat, to the Sun-beams to warm him, he will not seek for the favour of God to be cherished with the assurance of his love, as the poor creature goeth to the Sun to warm it till it be over hot for it. Man should know what is good and what is evil: the new creature doth so: for with the change of nature, there is a divine wisdom put into the soul of a Christian, that teacheth him what is good and what is evil, that he may be careful to avoid the evil: that he may discern of things that differ: that he may say this is good for my soul, and all the world shall not scoff me out of that that I know to be good with their profane jesting, they shall not drive me from that is good, & for courses that are ill, they shall not draw me with all their allurements, I know what belongs to the good of my soul better then so. It should be thus with Christians, to be wise for their spiritual being, as the poor creatures, the Stork and the Crane, and the Turtle are to preserve their poor life here with as much comfort as they can.