A12166:751
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.
3And to consider what it is that is in bondage, the immortal soul of man, that had the image of God stamped upon it; and in the soul of man, the most excellent part, the will, that is most free, yet being under sin, it is most bound. Our will was given us, to cleave to God, and the best things; to make choice of the best things, and to cleave to them undivided in life, and death, and for ever; and so by cleaving to things better then our selves, to advance our selves to a higher condition. For when the soul of man that is under better things, that is under God, and Christ, and doth cleave to God, and Christ, in his affections, and to the things of a better life; these be things bettering a mans condition, even raising the soul from its own present estate, to a glorious condition. ⟨p. 15⟩For we are as we affect, our wills and our affections do transform us; therefore wicked men are called the World, because they love it; and holy men are called heavenly, because they are carried in their affections and wills, to heavenly things. Our affections and wills do denominate us, they give us the name; nay, that is too little; they do give us the reality, the state. When God so alters and changes our dispositions, that out of a sanctified judgement, we make a right choice of things, and then cleave to them in our wills and affections constantly; this raiseth our nature to be higher then it self. He that cleaveth to the Lord, is one Spirit, as the Apostle saith. Indeed, our affections tran• form us anew.2 As it is with the fire, it transforms cold and gross bodies to be all fiery: so God, and heavenly things, work upon our hearts, they transform us to be like themselves.
3And to consider what it is that is in bondage, the immortall soule of man, that had the image of God stamped upon it; and in the soule of man, the most excellent part, the will, that is most free, yet being under sinne, it is most bound. Our will was given us, to cleave to God, and the best things; to make choise of the best things, and to cleave to them undivided in life, and death, and for ever; and so by cleaving to things better then our selves, to advance our selves to a higher condition. For when the soule of man that is under better things, that is under God, and Christ, and doth cleave to God, and Christ, in his affections, and to the things of a better life; these be things bettering a mans condition, even raysing the soule from its owne present estate, to a glorious condition.