A12184:341
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the…
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulness. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philip. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Gray's-Inn.An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulnesse. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philipp. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Grayes-Inne.
London: printed by T. Cotes and John Dawson for Peter Cole, 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.
I answer, get first Faith, for by it the weak are made strong, Heb. 11. Get assurance that Heaven is thine, and God hath promised thee grace sufficient, and this is Pauls argument; be ye constant and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing you labour ⟨p. 128⟩shall not be in vain: where hope of reward is in the use of the means, it will stir us up to a constant use of the means 1 Cor. 15. last. Secondly, get a fervent love, for it is a strong affection if lust so prevail with us, as we will omit no means to accomplish it; then a love in it self is much more powerful, nothing being too hard for it, it hath an enlarging knitting and communicating power: it makes a man bestow all, and rejoice more in doing good, by much then in receiving. Its a grace comprehends a number under it, and therefore Christ comprehended all the law under love of God, and our neighbour. Thirdly, cut off all superfluities, men think they are happy, when they have much to do, when indeed they were happy if they had less to do then they have. Satan he does as Cyrus did with the waters of Babylon, he diverts and separates our affections, that he might pass over. As Nurses, they hurt themselves and the children too, when they keep over many: so do men hurt themselves with overmuch business. The Lord hath not made us all for the world, but hath reserved one day in Seven for his service. For shame lets show we have some respect of Religion and goodness, seeing God requires but one in seven; let us not be so unjust, as to deny him his service on that day.
I answer, get first Faith, for by it the weake are made strong, Heb. 11. Get assurance that Heaven is thine, and God hath promised thee grace sufficient, and this is Pauls argument; be yee constant and unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord, knowing you labour ⟨p. 128⟩shall not be in vain: where hope of reward is in the use of the meanes, it will stir us up to a constant use of the meanes 1 Cor. 15