A12183:503
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.
It checks the disposition of some good people they think they have not grace, because they have but a little, this phrase shows that we have not all at once, God carries us by degrees, from glory to glory, from one degree of grace to another, Gods children when they have truth of grace wrought in them, their desires go beyond their endeavour and strength, their desires are wondrous large, and their prayers are answerable to their desires, therefore in the Lords prayer, what say we? Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done ⟨p. 552⟩in earth as it is in heaven; can it be so in this world? No, but we must pray till we come to it, we must pray till we come to heaven, where prayer shall cease, so the prayers, and desires of Gods people transcend their endeavours their prayers are infinite: hereupon the chief thing in conversion being the desire, the turning of the stream of the will, when they find their will and desire good, and their endeavour to fall short of their purposes, they say surely I have no good, because I have not that I would have, as if they should have heaven upon earth, we must grow ⟨p. 553⟩from glory to glory; and thank God for that beginning, it is Gods mercy that he would work the least degree of grace in such rebellious hearts as all of us have, that he would work any goodness, any change, though never so little, God looks not to the measure, so much as to truth: for he will bring truth to perfection, though it be never so little,1 let us be comforted in it: and it is Gods government, to bring his children to glory by little, and little that so there may be a dependence of one Christian upon another, the weaker on the stronger, and that there ⟨p. 554⟩may be pity, and sweet• affections of one Christian to another, and that there may be perpetual experience of Gods mercy in helping weak Christians, and a perpetual experience of that which is the true ground of comfort, justification that we• must needs be justified, and stand righteous before God, by Christs absolute righteousness, having experience of our imperfect righteousness;