A12184:342
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.
Well, let those that profess themselves of another world, by all means pursue it. In Nature, every thing tends to his centre and ⟨p. 129⟩place, heavy things go downward, light things ascend upward, in handicrafts and arts every one looks after excellency, shall it be thus with them, shall mediocrity in other arts merit dispraise, and is it only praise-worthy in Religion? The wicked they labour for hell, venturing loss of credit, strength, and estate, and is there not better gain in goodness? have we such rich promises and do we esteem of them no more, are not the afflictions we shall meet with many and great, and do we think to undergo them with ordinary grace, gotten without labour and watchfulness? But lets go on to the next words;
Well, let those that professe themselves of another world, by all meanes pursue it. In Nature, every thing tends to his center and ⟨p. 129⟩place, heavie things goe downward, light things ascend upward, in handicrafts and arts every one lookes after excellencie, shall it bee thus with them, shall mediocritie in other arts merit dispraise, and is it onely praise-worthy in Religion? The wicked they labour for hell, venturing losse of credit, strength, and estate, and is there not better gain in goodnesse? have we such rich promises and doe we esteeme of them no more, are not the afflictions wee shall meet with many and great, and doe wee thinke to undergoe them with ordinarie grace, gotten without labour and watchfulnesse? But lets goe on to the next words;
That I may apprehend. Whence we may observe, that the main scope of a Christian is to apprehend Christ here by revelation, that we may apprehend him hereafter by vision: many there are that may follow good things, and use good means, yet wanting these apprehending graces of faith and love, (which makes us have communion with Christ) they perish notwithstanding: humane knowledge is commendable, yet is it no other than as a scaffold in this building, it helps, but the building once done, its for little use; apprehend we therefore him by knowledge of his truth, rely on him by faith, and embrace him by love: and then if we be chased by him, we may as Joab, lay hold on the horns of the Altar Christ Jesus, and there live and die, and as we have daily breaches, even so get more and more hold on him,