A12166:548
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.
I answer,1 because it is free, therefore it is violently taken:2 for alas, if it were offered to us upon condition of our exact performing of the Law, it might damp the spirits of men, as indeed usually such if they be not better informed, they end their days in despair: but being freely offered, The Publicans and Harlots (saith Christ) go into the Kingdom of God before the proud Pharisees; because it is free, it is free to sinners that feel the burden of their sins: Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, &c. 3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, they shall be satisfied. Thereupon he that hath a guilty conscience, he makes haste, and offers violence, when he hears of free pardon. What makes the condition of the devils so desperate? There is no hope of free pardon to them, what makes men so eagerly to embrace the Gospel notwithstanding their sins? Because it is freely ⟨p. 254⟩offered. Thereupon it was that the Gentiles were so glad of it, that had been sinners and under Satan's Kingdom before, and that makes miserable persons (that are humbled with afflictions and abasement in the world) glad of it; it being so great a thing, the Kingdom of Heaven, the favour of God, and freedom from misery, and so freely offered. It is so far from hindering violence because it is free, that therefore the humble afflicted souls that desire grace are the more eager after it. The proud Pharisees thought the Kingdom of Heaven belonged only to them; and therefore they despised Christ, and despised the Gospel, because it was propounded to sinners, and to such mean persons that they thought were viler then themselves: but now when the meaner sort of people, and others that were abased with crosses in the world saw what a kind of Gospel it was; what great matters were offered, and that it was offered freely; they justified wisdom,5 and the counsel of God which others despised, and pressed for it with violence.