A12166:974
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.
Therefore we should labour by all means to be convinced of the best things.1 It is not sufficient to have a general notion, and slightly to hear of good things: no, we must beg the spirit of God that he would seal, and set them upon our souls, and so strongly set, and seal them there, that when other things are presented to the contrary, with all the advantages, and colours, and glosses that flesh and blood can set upon them: yet out of the strength of spiritual judgement we may be able to judge of the best things out of a spiritual conviction, and to say it is best to cleave to God. So said the blessed man of God Moses, there was in the one end of the balance, the pleasures of sin, ⟨p. 152⟩the honours of a Court, there was all that earth could afford: for if it be not to be had in a Princes Court, where is it to be had? his place was more than ordinary, he was accounted the son of Pharaoh's daughter: yet lay all that in the balance; and in the other part of the balance, to draw near to Gods people; though the people of God were a base, fore-lorn, despised, afflicted people at that time: yet notwithstanding to draw near to the cause of Religion, the disgraced cause of Religion, to draw near to God when he is disgraced in the world (it is easy to draw near to God when there is no opposition) but to draw near to Gods part, and side, when it is disgraced in the world, Moses saw it the best end of the balance, put in the afflictions, and disgrace of Gods people, or what you will. So it was with Abraham when he followed God (as it were) blind-fold, and left all, his fathers house, and the contentments he had there. So it was with our Saviours Disciples, they left all to follow Christ: they were convinced of this; surely we shall get more good by the company of Christ, than by those things that we leave for him.
Therefore we should labour by all meanes to be convinced of the best things.1 It is not sufficient to have a generall notion, and slightly to heare of good things: no, wee must beg the spirit of God that hee would seale, and set them upon our soules, and so strongly set, and seale them there, that when other things are presented to the contrary, with all the advantages, and colours, and glosses that flesh and blood can set upon them: yet out of the strength of spirtuall judgement wee may bee able to judge of the best things out of a spirituall conviction, and to say it is best to cleave to God. So said the blessed man of God Moses, there was in the one end of the ballance, the pleasures of sinne,