A12166:963
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.
And then it is good in condition: for it is his happiness to do so; the goodness of the creature is in drawing near to God. The nearer any thing is to the principle of such a thing, the better it is for it: the nearer to the Sun, the more light; the nearer to the fire, the more heat; the nearer to that which is goodness it self, the more good; the nearer to happiness, the more happy: therefore it must needs be the happiness of condition to draw near to God. So you see what is meant, when he saith here, it is good: It is a pleasing good, conformable to Gods will, he commands it: and it is for my good likewise, it advanceth my condition to draw near to God.
And then it is good in condition: for it is his happinesse to do so; the goodnesse of the creature is in drawing neare to God. The nearer any thing is to the principle of such a thing, the better it is for it: the nearer to the Sunne, the more light; the nearer to the fire, the more heat; the nearer to that which is goodnesse it selfe, the more good; the nearer to happinesse, the more happy: therefore it must needs be the happinesse of condition to draw neare to God. So you see what is meant, when he saith here, it is good: It is a pleasing good, conformable to Gods will, he commands it: and it is for my good likewise, it advanceth my condition to draw neare to God.
1[To draw near] what is it to draw near to God, we shall see by what it is to go from God. God is every where, we are always near to God, Whither shall I go from thy presence? If I go to hell, thou art there, &c. saith ⟨p. 145⟩the Psalmist. God is every where indeed in regard of his presence, & power, & disposing providence but then there is a gracious presence of God in the hearts of his children. And there is a strange presence of God to Christ, the presence of Union; which makes the humane nature of Christ the happiest creature that ever was, being joined by a hypostatical Union to the second person; but we speak not of that nearness here.3