A12166:556
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.
God is not so weary of these precious things,1 these precious jewels of grace and glory, as to force them upon us. Is the Kingdom of Heaven such a sleight thing, that it should be obtruded to us whether we will or no? Shall we think to have it when our hearts tell us we esteem other things better? No; there are none ever come to Heaven but their hearts are wrought to such an admiration of grace and glory, that they undervalue all things to it: therefore there is no hope for any to obtain it, but he that takes it by violence. We see Moses esteemed the basest thing in the Church better then the greatest excellencies in the world that men are so violent after, he esteemed the very afflictions of Gods people better then the treasures and pleasures of sin for a season, nay then the pleasures of a Court. When men shall esteem the base things of the world, above all the treasures of Heaven, above the state of Christianity, they have no hope of coming there: they may pretend God is merciful and Christ dyed, &c. I but whosoever he brings to salvation; he works ⟨p. 260⟩such a sense of misery in them and such an apprehension of grace and of the means of grace that there is an undervaluing of all other things. God will not bring them to Heaven that shall not glorify him when they come there, and how shall they glorify him here, or there when they value the world and these base things that they must leave behind them more then the things of Heaven? This is the reason that few are saved, because they content themselves with easy, dull and drowsy performances, and never consider with what proportion they are carried to things: when they had rather loose the advantage of that which will bring everlasting good to their souls, then loose the petty commodities of this world and yet think themselves good Christians, what a delusion is this? It is the violent only that are successful, they take it by force.
God is not so weary of these precious things,1 these precious jewels of grace and glory, as to force them upon us. Is the Kingdome of Heaven such a sleight thing, that it should be obtruded to us whether we will or no? Shall we thinke to have it when our hearts tell us wee esteeme other things bet•er? No; there are none ever come to Heaven but their hearts are wrought to such an admiration of grace and glory, that they undervalue all things to it: therefore there is no hope for any to obtaine it, but he that takes it by violence. We see Moses esteemed the basest thing in the Church better then the greatest excellencies in the world that men are so violent after, he esteemed the very afflictions of Gods people better then the treasures and pleasures of sinne for a season, nay then the pleasures of a Court. When men shall esteeme the base things of the world, above all the treasures of Heaven, above the state of Christianity, they have no hope of comming there: they may pretend God is mercifull and Christ dyed, &c. I but whosoever he brings to salvation; he workes