A12177:130
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.
These be idle objections, as if there were not in this kind better in Religion, 1then in the world, as if God did bid us to our loss, as if Christ should bid us follow ⟨p. 59⟩him, to our disadvantage, surely, no He is Lord of Heaven and earth, and can recompense us in this world. But what is all pleasure here, to the pleasure of a good conscience? What is friendship here to communion with God, and friendship with Christ, and the protection of Angels? What are riches to him, that is the fountain of all riches? Did not Moses know what he did, when he forsook Pharaohs Court? or Paul, when he said, to be with Christ is best of all? Did not Abraham know what he did, when he left his fathers house, and followed God, though to the giving up of Isaac, whom he knew God could raise up again, he being all-sufficient? Perhaps I lo•e a friend, or petty pleasure, or contentment, but that was but a particular good, serving for a particular turn only, but in stead thereof I have God that is all-sufficient for all turns, that is near to me, and never nearer then when I deny any thing for his sake. A man hath never more of GOD then when he denieth himself most for ⟨p. 60⟩God, for in what measure we empty our selves of love to any creature, in that measure God fills the soul with contentments of an higher kind. We have within that particular good, which we parted with, and we have peace and grace, which is incomparably above it. Think of that, and it will be an infinite encouragement to live to Christ.
These be idle objections, as if there were not in this kinde better in Religion, 1then in the world, as if God did bid us to our losse, as if Christ should bid us follow ⟨p. 59⟩him, to our disadvantage, surely, no Hee is Lord of Heaven and earth, and can recompence us in this world. But what is all ple•sure here, to the pleasure of a good conscience? What is friendship here to communion with God, and friendship with Christ, and the protection of Angels? VVhat are riches to him, that is the fountain of all riches? Did not Moses know what hee did, when he forsook Pharoahs Court? or Paul, when he said, to be with Christ is best of all? Did not Abraham know what hee did, when hee left his fathers house, and followed God, though to the giving up of Isaak, whom he knew God could raise up again, he being alsufficient? Perhaps I loe a friend, or pettypleasure, or contentment, but that was but a particular good, serving for a particular turne onely, but in stead therof I have God that is alsufficient for all turnes, that is neer to mee, and never neerer then when I deny any thing for his sake. A man hath never more of GOD then when hee denyeth himself most for