A12166:975
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.
1Let us labour therefore to be convinced of the excellency of spiritual things, & then spiritual practice will follow. And undoubtedly the reason of the profane conversation of the world, it comes from hidden atheism: ⟨p. 153⟩that men make no better choice than they do, that they draw not near to God; let them say what they will, it proceeds from hence. I prove it thus; when men are convinced of good things, they will do good: for conviction is the ground of practise, and when men do not take good courses, it is because they are not convinced of the best things. Therefore men that swear, and blaspheme, that are carnal brute persons, at that time Atheism rules in their hearts; that they believe not these things in the book of God to be true. Can the swearer believe that God will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain: that a curse shall follow the swearer? and the whoremonger, that whoremongers and adulterers God will judge? and so the covetous, and extortioners, (they that raise themselves by ill means) shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven, can men believe this, and live in the practise of these sins? (if they did believe these things indeed, as the word of God sets them down, if they did believe that sin were so bitter, and so soul a thing as the word of God makes it) certainly they would not: therefore it comes from a hidden Atheism. Indeed there is a bundle of Atheism, and infidelity in the heart of man, and we cannot bewail it too much: In the best there are some remainders of it: as this holy man, so foolish was I, and as a beast before thee, when he thought of his doubting of Gods providence. ⟨p. 155⟩Therefore considering that the cause of all ill practise, is that we are not spiritually convinced of the contrary, that sin is a naughty, and bitter thing; nor are we sufficiently convinced of the best things, let us labour more and more to be soundly convinced of these things—
1Let us labour therefore to be convinced of the excellency of spirituall things, & then spirituall practice will follow. And undoubtedly the reason of the prophane conversation of the world, it comes from hidden atheisme: ⟨p. 153⟩