A12166:537
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.
Therefore they are bitter,1 sour, profane scoffing Atheists that trifle with Religion, as if it were no great matter what it be. They will be earnest in all things else, earnest to scrape riches to satisfy their base lusts: but for Religion i• is no matter what it be, it is a thing not worthy the seeking after, ⟨p. 248⟩the old Religion or the new or both or none. These are persons to be taken heed off, breeding a temper opposite to Religion more then any other, Christ can least brook them: there is great reason for it; who can brook any favour to be neglected and slighted? Especially for these excellent things to be under-valued and slighted, it canno• be that God can endure it. There will be a faction in the world while the world stands, Christ and Antichrist, Good and evil, light and darkness, but a man cannot be of both, he must show himself of one side or other in case of opposition. Therefore the temper of the true professor is to be earnest in case of opposition of Religion, and in case of opportunity to advance his Religion; in civill conversation and dealing with men that are subject to infirmities, he must be gentle and meek.2 The Spirit of God descended in the shape of a Dove upon Christ, as well as in fiery tongues upon the Apostles. But in the cause of Christ, in the cause of Religion, he must be fiery and fervent. No man more mild in his own cause then Moses, 3he was a meek man: but when occasion served, when God was offended, down he throws the Tables of stone, he forgot himself, though he were the meekest man in the world otherwise in his own matters: So I say the Spirit is both meek and gentle as a Dove, and earnest and zealous and hot as fire. In Acts. 2, The Spirit of God comes down as a mighty wind. The wind is ⟨p. 249⟩a powerful thing, if it be in a mans body. There is no torment like to windy sicknesses, as their complaints witness well enough that feel them: and if a little wind be enclosed in the earth it shakes the whole vast body of the earth. The Spirit is like wind, it makes men bold, it fills them with a great deal of eagerness in the cause of God. Again, the Spirit appeared to the Apostles in the likeness of fire, it inflamed their zeal and made them fervent that were cold before;