A12183:171
The excellency of the Gospel above the law Wherein the liberty of the sons…The excellencie of the Gospell above the law Wherein the liberty of the sonnes…
The excellency of the Gospel above the law Wherein the liberty of the sons of God is showed. With the image of their graces here, and glory hereafter. Which affords much comfort and great encouragement, to all such as begin timely, and continue constantly in the ways of God. By R. Sibbs, D.D. Mr. of Katherin Hall Cambridge, and preacher of Gray's-Inn, London. Begun in his life time, and published by T.G. and P.N.The excellencie of the Gospell above the law Wherein the liberty of the sonnes of God is shewed. With the image of their graces here, and glory hereafter. Which affords much comfort and great incouragement, to all such as begin timely, and continue constantly in the wayes of God. By R. Sibbs, D.D. Mr. of Katherin Hall Cambridge, and preacher of Grayes-Inne, London. Begun in his life time, and published by T.G. and P.N.
London: printed by Tho. Cotes and John Dawson, 1639
Excellency of the GOSPEL above the LAW. › PartExcellency of the GOSPEL above the LAVV. › Part
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.
Again, where the Spirit of liberty is,1 it gives boldness with God himself, and thus it is known especially where it is, where the Spirit is, there is liberty, what to do? even to go to God himself, that otherwise is a consuming fire; for the Spirit of Christ goes through the mediation of Christ to God, Christ by his Spirit leads us to God, he that hath not the Spirit of God cannot go to God with a spirit of boldness, therefore when a man is in affliction, ⟨p. 186⟩in the time of temptation, or great affliction, especially when there is opposition, he may best judge what he is in truth, when a man is in temptation, or opposition from the world, within or without, and can go boldly to God and pour out his soul to God freely, and boldly as to a father, this comes from the Spirit of liberty: where the Spirit of Christ is not though the parts be never so strong, or never so great, it will never do thus,2 take another man in the time of extremity, he sinks, but take a child of God in extremity, yet he hath a Spirit to go to ⟨p. 187⟩God, and to cry Abba Father, to go in a familiar manner to God, Saul was a mighty man, when he was in anguish; he could not go to God; Cain could not go to God; Judas a man of great knowledge, he could not go to God, his heart was naught, he had not the Spirit of Christ, but the spirit of the devil, and the spirit of bondage, bound him over for his treason, to hell, and destruction, because he had not the Spirit to go to God, but accounted him his enemy, he had betrayed Christ, if he had said as much to God, as he did to the Scribes, and Pharisees. he might have had mercy, ⟨p. 188⟩in the force of the thing. I speak not of the decree of God, but in the nature of the thing it self, if he had said so much to Christ and to God, he might have found mercy, so let a man be never so great a sinner, if he can go to God, and spread his soul, and lay open his sins, with any remorse, if he can come, and open his soul in confession, and in petition, and beg mercy of God, in Christ, to shine as a Father upon his soul, this Spirit of liberty to go to God, it argues that the Spirit of Christ is there, because there is liberty to go to God; in