A12182:1109
Evangelical sacrifices In xix. sermons. I. Thankful commemorations for Gods mercy in our great…Evangelicall sacrifices In xix. sermons. I. Thankfull commemorations for Gods mercy in our great…
Evangelical sacrifices In xix. sermons. I. Thankful commemorations for Gods mercy in our great deliverance from the papists powder-plot. 2. The successful seeker. 3. Faith triumphant. 4. Special preparations to fit us for our latter end in four funeral sermons. 5. The faithful covenanter. 6. The demand of a good conscience. 7. The sword of the wicked. By the late learned and reverend divine, Rich. Sibbs. Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher to the honourable society of Gray's-Inn. The third tome. Published and perused by D. Sibbs own appointment, subscribed with his hand to prevent imperfect copies after his decease.Evangelicall sacrifices In xix. sermons. I. Thankfull commemorations for Gods mercy in our great deliverance from the papists powder-plot. 2. The successefull seeker. 3. Faith triumphant. 4. Speciall preparations to fit us for our latter end in foure funerall sermons. 5. The faithfull covenanter. 6. The demand of a good conscience. 7. The sword of the wicked. By the late learned and reverend divine, Rich. Sibbs. Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher to the honourable society of Grayes-Inne. The third tome. Published and perused by D. Sibbs owne appointment, subscribed with his hand to prevent imperfect copies after his decease.
London: printed by Thomas for N. Bourne, 1640
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.
So this is an ordinary reproach, an ordinary part for wicked men, to cast at the best people, especially when they are in misery: what is become of your profession now? what is become of your forwardness, and strictness now? what is become of your much reading, and hearing now? and your doing such things now? what is become of your God that you bragged so of, and thought your selves so happy in, as if he had been no bodies God but yours? We may learn hence the disposition of wicked men; it is a character of a poysonfull cursed disposition to upbraid a man with his Religion.
So this is an ordinary reproach, an ordinary part for wicked men, to cast at the best people, especially when they are in miserie: what is become of your profession now? what is become of your forwardnesse, and strictnesse now? what is become of your much reading, and hearing now? and your doing such things now? what is become of your God that you bragged so of, and thought your selves so happie in, as if he had beene no bodies God but yours? We may learn hence the disposition of wicked men; it is a character of a poysonfull cursed disposition to upbraid a man with his Religion.
But what is the scope? The scope is worse then the words, where is thy God? The scope is to shake his faith, and his confidence in God: and this is that that touched him so nearly, while they upbraided him, where is thy God? Indeed they had some probability and show of truth; for now God seemed opposite to him, when he was banished from his house, from that blessed ⟨p. 219⟩communion with him that he had. Their purpose was therefore to shake his faith, and affiance in God, and herein they showed themselves right the Children of the Devil, whose scope is to shake the faith, and affiance of Gods people, in all his temptations, and by his instruments. For the Devil knows well enough, that as long as God, and the soul join together, it is in vain to trouble any man? therefore he labours to put jealousies to accuse God to man, and man to God. He knows there is nothing in the world can stand against God; as long as we make God our confidence, all his enterprises are in vain, his scope is therefore to shake our affiance in God, where is thy God? So he dealt with the head of the Church, our blessed Saviour himself, when he came to tempt him, If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to be made bread; he comes with an If, he laboured to shake him in his Sonship. The Devil since he was divided from God himself eternally, is become a spirit of division, he labours to divide the Son from the Father, he labours to divide even God the Father from his own Son: If thou be the Son of God. So he labours to sever Christians from their head Christ, subjects from their Princes, and Princes from their subjects, friends from friends, and one from another: he is a spirit of division, where is thy God? There was his scope, to breed division, if he could, between his heart and God, that he might call God into jealousy,