A12166:662
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.
There is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee.
There is none that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of thee.
1The complaint of this holy man of God may be taken up at this time of many of us now; ⟨p. 313⟩how few are those that rouse and stir up themselves, but put off God with an empty complement? Nay, in these times of danger, have ye not a company of idle persons that will not vouchsafe to hear the Word, nor to come and humble themselves; but walk and talk offensively, as if they would dare God, or if they come here, they come not with a resolution to hear the issue of their prayers, to rouse up themselves to lay hold on God. Because, as there is a great deal of Atheism in regard of God, so there is much dead flesh in regard of men. Who is so pitiful of our brethren round about as he ought? We had need to stir up our selves, the danger is present, we are beset round about, yet who is stirred up to earnest prayer? we want bowels of compassion. Those that have hearts compassionate, it is a sign that God intends good to them; but of the most we may take up this complaint, we are dead-hearted in regard of our sins against God, and in regard of the contagion among us. A man may see it by mens discourses, there is inquiry how the sickness spreads, how many dies? but men do not labour with God to make their accounts even with him; nor we are not compassionate to men, for that would be a means to stir and to rouse us up to lay hold of God, to stay his hand out of love, and pity, and compassion to our brethren which are our flesh, though it should never seize on us: I say I fear this complaint is too justly on many of us. I