A12166:742
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.
1And we have deserved to be cast into this estate, by reason that we left our subordination and dependence upon God; which being creatures, we should have had. Therefore we turning from God to the creature, God punisheth our rebellion to him, with rebellion in our selves; because we withdrew our subjection from him, that therefore there should be in us a withdrawing of the subjection of sin, and of the whole soul to God. So this captivity to, and giving up to sin in us, it is penal, and sinful; but as it comes from God, it is merely judicial. Therefore we have it oft in the New Testament, in Rom. 1. & 2 Thess. 2The Gentiles, because they would not entertain the Truth that they might have had by the light of Nature, God gave them up to their sins. And then the Christians, after the Apostles times, they set slight by the good Word of God, the Gospel, therefore God gave them up to believe lies. It was sin in them; but as God gave them up, it was justice. ⟨p. 9⟩So this captivity, and giving men up to their own lusts, it is justice, as it comes from God, it is a horrible judgement; it is worse, then to be given up to the Devil himself: for by being given up to our lusts, we increase our damnation. To be given up to be tormented of the Devil, it is not such a mischief, as this spiritual captivity under sin: we are guilty our selves, of our own thraldom. And this will increase both the shame, and the punishment: The shame, that a man shall say in Hell afterward; I have brought my self hither, I had means enow, prohibitions enow; I had sometimes chastisements of God, sometimes motions of his Spirit, sometimes one help from God, sometimes another: yet notwithstanding I brake through all oppositions that God set between me, and the execution of my lusts, and to Hell-ward I would; and hither I have brought my self. So that indeed, the greatest part of Hell torment, the shame of them especially it will be, that men have brought themselves by their own wits and carnal lusts, thither. And indeed, all the wit a carnal man hath that is not sanctified by Gods Spirit, it is to work himself to misery, to be a drudge to his lusts; that sets all the parts he hath on work, not how he may serve God, and be happy in another world; but how he may prowl & provide for his own carnal lusts.