A12182:1135
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.
Take away a godly mans religion, and his God whom he serves in Religion, you take away his life: touch him in that, you touch him in his best free-hold: Therefore when these malicious enemies say, Where is thy God? they could not more touch David then so. Profane men of the world, come and tell them of Religion, and such things, alas they turn it off with scorn; for they would have the world know, that they are not very religious: they never speak of God and of religion, but in scorn, or by way of discourse: but a man that is religious to purpose, and makes it his trade, makes it that whereby he hopes to be saved; he takes to heart any thing that is spoken against Religion: their words are as a sword in his bones, while they say unto him, where is thy God? It is better to be distempered, then not to be moved, when God and Religion are touched. The Holy-Ghost that appeared in the shape of a Dove, appeared at another time in fiery tongues, to show that the meek spirit of God, is zealous other whiles in his children. This was another reason he was thus affected.
Take away a godly mans religion, and his God whom he serves in Religion, you take away his life: touch him in that, you touch him in his best free-hold: Therefore when these malicious enemies say, Where is thy God? they could not more touch David then so. Prophane men of the world, come and tell them of Religion, and such things, alas they turne it off with scorne; for they would have the world know, that they are not very religious: they never speake of God and of religion, but in scorne, or by way of discourse: but a man that is religious to purpose, and makes it his trade, makes it that whereby hee hopes to bee saved; hee takes to heart any thing that is spoken against Religion: their words are as a sword in his bones, while they say unto him, where is thy God? It is better to bee distempered, then not to be moved, when God and Religion are touched. The Holy-Ghost that appeared in the shape of a Dove, appeared at another time in fiery tongues, to shew that the meeke spirit of God, is zealous other whiles in his children. This was another reason he was thus affected.
And thirdly in this reproach of theirs, thus violent, Where is now thy God? here was a damping of the spirits of all good men in those times, that should hear of this reproach. Words affect strangely; they have a strange force with men, especially in weak fancies, that are not grounded in their judgement and faith. The spies made a shrewd oration, and brought an ill report on the Land: oh! it is a land that devours the inhabitants. It was a speech discomfortable, and it wrought so, that it made them all murmur, and be discouraged. It is not to be thought what mischief comes from speech, cunningly handled. This malicious speech, Where is thy God? and what is become of all thy devotion at the Tabernacle, that thou didst frequent so, and drewest others, a great train with thee, what is become of all now? When weak men, that had the beginnings of goodness in them, should see a man reproached for this: questionless it would damp the beginnings of goodness: oh would not this go to the heart of David, to see insolent men to quench good things in good men with reproaches. Well, we see what reason the holy man David had to be so sensible of this reproach, for they said unto him daily, where is thy God?