A12166:557
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.
1I but what if the opposition grow more and more.
- 1Ob.
1Then the grace of God and courage will grow and increase more and more;2 As Luther said well, the more violent the adversaries were the more free and bold was he. So the more the enemies rage the more the spirit of grace grows in Gods people, it increaseth by opposition. As Noah's Ark, the higher the waters were, the nearer still it was carried to Heaven. So we are nearer to God and nearer to the Kingdom of Heaven, the more ⟨p. 261⟩opposition swells and rages, True courage grows with opposition. As the Palm-tree riseth up against the burden that presseth it down: so the divine spirit being a heavenly thing, and all opposition below of the Devil and devilish minded men being but earthly, what are they to the divine Spirit which sets us on and encourageth us? They cannot quell it, but the Spirit grows more and more in opposition. The Apostles they ran all from Christ when he was to be crucified, they had but a little measure of the Spirit, but when the Holy Ghost was shed more plentifully on them, they began to stand courageously for the cause of Christ when there was more opposition; the Spirit grew more and more, till they sealed the Truth with their blood.3 Therefore though opposition of enemies and their fury and rage grow: let us know whose cause we manage and with what assurance of success, the violent at length shall take it by force, Let us meditate upon this that success is tied to violence: therefore when you pray to God, if he seem to deny your request, offer violence, wrestle with him, let him not go without a blessing, when he seems to be an enemy, as sometimes he doth, to try our strength, we must use an holy violence; when we are dull and not fit to pray, nor fit for holy things, Let us stir up the Spirit of God in us, and labour to get our of that estate, let us use violence and violence will overcome at the last. A man that hath