A12177:117
The Christians end. Or, The sweet sovereignty of Christ, over his members in life…The Christians end. Or, The sweet soveraignty of Christ, over his members in life…
The Christians end. Or, The sweet sovereignty of Christ, over his members in life and death Wherein is contained the whole scope of the godly mans life, with divers rules, motives and encouragements, to live and die to Jesus Christ. Being the substance of five sermons preached to the honourable society of Gray's Inn, by that learned and faithful minister of Gods Word, Richard Sibbes, D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.The Christians end. Or, The sweet soveraignty of Christ, over his members in life and death VVherein is contained the whole scope of the godly mans life, with divers rules, motives and incouragements, to live and die to Iesus Christ. Being the substance of five sermons preached to the honorable society of Grayes Inne, by that learned and faithfull minister of Gods Word, Richard Sibbes, D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honorable societie.
London: printed by Thomas Harper and Eliot's Court Press for Lawrence Chapman, 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.
His first aims being corrupt,1 God is not in all his thoughts (as the Psalmist speaks) neither to have communion with him here in grace, nor in glory hereafter. Therefore whatsoever good he doth, a ⟨p. 52⟩false end poisoneth it. If a man misunderstanding of a thing be from a false principle, he misunderstands it grossly. As if an house be built upon a weak foundation, such is all the fabrick•: though otherwise never so costly, if the principles be naught, the conclusions drawn from thence must needs be naught also,2 As in Physic if the first concoction be naught, the second can never be good. So if a mans ends are nought, if he seek himself, or doth things only from foreign motives out of terror of conscience, or for vain glory, or to be seen of men, his corrupt aim spoileth all his actions;3 yea, he reduceth Religion to himself, because he will enjoy his pleasures the better, he will act some part of Religion, lest conscience should bark, and clamour against him. This self will moderate Religion, and restrain it to such a measure, as may stand with his lusts and sinful customs.