A12184:381
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.
A third law is, that we do things with all our might, that we run this race with all our earnest endeavour, there is no bodily exercise that profiteth, but it must be with putting forth of our strength; so our Christian actions should show even outwardly, that we do things as if we intended thereby to honour God indeed, and to this end we are to depend on God by prayer, that he would give us strength, and minds to put forth our strength, for gaining most honour to his Majesty, and this will bring great assurance and comfort to us in time of need.
A third law is, that we doe things with all our might, that we runne this race with all our earnest indeavour, there is no bodily exercise that profiteth, but it must be with putting forth of our strength; so our Christian actions should shew even outwardly, that we doe things as if we intended thereby to honour God indeed, and to this end wee are to depend on God by prayer, that he would give us strength, and mindes to put forth our strength, for gaining most honour to his Majestie, and this will bring great assurance and comfort to us in time of need.
A fourth rule is, that we are to run this race with a cheerful and speedy course: a dead performance of duties, is no part of our race, yea as many go to hell by ill performance of good duties, as by committing sins that are ⟨p. 143⟩scandalously evil; for this resting in the work done, is the cause of hardness of heart, and there by of despair, and at the best never brings any sound comfort at all to us: and therefore we are enjoined to do good duties, and to do them in a good manner, Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, and so run that you may obtain. Its no lingering, we know not how long we shall live, how soon we shall die, and therefore let us make haste to do our work, before God takes away time from us, by taking us out of the world. And those especially are to look to this, that have lived long in their own courses, and are but lately reclaimed, they are much behind, and had need make haste, the journey is long, their time but short. And to this end, look we not what we have done, and how far we have gone, but look what remains to be done, and know we have done nothing, till we have done all.