A12168:92
A breathing after God. Or a Christians desire of Gods presence. By the late…
A breathing after God. Or a Christians desire of Gods presence. By the late reverent and worthy divine Richard Sibs, Doctor in Divinity, master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometime preacher of Greys-InnA breathing after God. Or a Christians desire of Gods presence. By the late reverent and worthy divine Richard Sibs, Doctor in Divinity, master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometime preacher of Graies-Inne
London: printed by John Dawson for R. Mabb, 1639London: printed by Iohn Dawson for R. Mabb, 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.
I answer; if the desire 1of grace be above the desire of any earthly thing, that a man may say with ⟨p. 58⟩David, One thing have I desired. I desire to be free from sin, as a greater blessing to my soul, then to be free from any calamity: oh, it is a good sign. And surely a man can never have comfort of his desire, till his desires be raised to that pitch. For none ever shall come to heaven, that do not desire the things that tend to heaven, above all earthly things, nor none shall ever escape hell, that do not think it worse, and more terrible then all earthly miseries. God brings no fools to heaven, that cannot discern ⟨p. 59⟩the difference of things. Therefore let us know, that our desires are to little purpose if we have some desire to be good, &c. but we have a greater desire to be rich, and great in the world, to have such, and such place: if the desire of that be greater, then to be gracious with God. If we hate poverty, and disgrace, and want, and this and that more then sin and hell, to which sin leads, it is a sign that our judgements are rotten and corrupt, and that our desire is no pure spiritual desire: for it is not answerable to the ⟨p. 60⟩thing desired; there is no proportion. David saith here, One thing have I desired: his desire carried him amain to One thing necessary, above all other things whatsoever. Thus you see out of the Text, what are the distinguishing notes of true desires from those that are false. I need name no more, if we consider what hath been spoken.
I answer; if the desire 1of grace be above the desire of any earthly thing, that a man may say with ⟨p. 58⟩David, One thing have I desired. I desire to be free from sinne, as a greater blessing to my soule, then to be free from any calamity: oh, it is a good signe. And surely a man can never have comfort of his desire, till his desires be raysed to that pitch. For none ever shall come to heaven, that doe not desire the things that tend to heaven, above all earthly things, nor none shall ever escape hell, that doe not thinke it worse, and more terrible then all earthly miseries. God brings no fooles to heaven, that cannot discerne