A12166:317
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.
3And not only so; but there is a loathsomeness contrary to that honour that was in it before. Though all art and skill be used that may be to set out a dead body, (with flowers, or whatsoever you will) to please the fancy of the living: yet it is but a dead body, and the stench will be above all other sweet smells. So let any natural man be as witty, and as learned, and as great, and as rich as you will; or as he can be set out with all these ornaments and flowers: yet he is but a carrion, a loathsome creature to God, if his soul be separated from God, and inwardly cleave to the creature. If he have not a new heart, he is abominable and loathsome to God, and to all that have the Spirit of God. A dead soul is abominable to all Gods senses, (the Scripture thus familiarly condescends unto us,) he ⟨p. 147⟩will not behold him, he looks upon the proud afar off. And he smells no savour from their performances, the very sacrifice of the wicked is abominable, he looks upon them as we do upon a dunghill, as a loathsome thing. The prayers of the wicked are an abomination to God, he turns away his face from them, he cannot endure them. And for his ears, he will not hear the prayers of the wicked. And for feeling, he is wearied with their sins, as a cart is with sheaves. Nay, he is wearied with their very good actions, as it is Isa. 1.8. Whatsoever wicked men perform it is abominable to God, he cannot behold them, he cannot endure them, he is burdened with their sins; and those also that have the Spirit of God in them, as far as they see the foulness of their sins they loath them.
3And not onely so; but there is a loathsomenesse contrary to that honour that was in it before. Though all art and skill be used that may be to set out a dead body, (with flowers, or whatsoever you will) to please the fancy of the living: yet it is but a dead body, and the stench will be above all other sweete smells. So let any naturall man be as witty, and as learned, and as great, and as rich as you will; or as he can be set out with all these ornaments and flowers: yet hee is but a carrion, a loathsome creature to God, if his soule be seperated from God, and inwardly cleave to the creature. If he have not a new heart, he is abhominable and loathsome to God, and to all that have the Spirit of God. A dead soule is abhominable to all Gods sences, (the Scripture thus familiarly condescends unto us,) hee