A12184:407
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.
But for the matter in hand; I say its expedient to look to the price; that we be not carried away with temptations on the right hand, or on the left, and therefore let us not look on them. Moses eye was so fixed on this price, as he set light by all the pleasures of this life; the eye of faith in a Christian, is stronger than that of sense, yet let us take these cautions. First, that we know ourselves sons, and that we come to this price by inheritance. And secondly, that we love not God so much for his goodness to us, as for that goodness which is in him: for a Christian aims first at Gods glory, then at his own good; and so he loves God for being goodness it self, then for being good to him. And yet a Christian in order, comes first to see Gods goodness to him, and therefore loves him, and then he arises higher to the love of God, even for that he is goodness, and thenceforth admires and adores his fullness, for else to love God because God loves us, is mercenary.
But for the matter in hand; I say its expedient to looke to the price; that we be not carried away with temptations on the right hand, or on the left, and therefore let us not looke on them. Moses eye was so fixed on this price, as he set light by all the pleasures of this life; the eye of faith in a Christian, is stronger than that of sense, yet let us take these cautions. First, that we know ourselves sonnes, and that wee come to this price by inheritance. And secondly, that we love not God so much for his goodnesse to us, as for that goodnesse which is in him: for a Christian aymes first at Gods glorie, then at his owne good; and so hee loves God for being goodnesse it selfe, then for being good to him. And yet a Christian in order, comes first to see Gods goodnesse to him, and therefore loves him, and then he arises higher to the love of God, even for that he is goodnesse, and thenceforth admires and adores his fulnesse, for else to love God because God loves us, is mercenarie.
We are therefore to think of this happy estate: 1and as children, though at the first we know not what belongs to inheritances and rewards, yet the elder we grow in Christianity, the more let us search into these things, and see what is laid up for us. It is an unvaluable price that will free us from all evil, of company of enemies, of Satan's annoyances, of hinderances, of sin, from all occasions without us, and inclinations within us, from sickness of body and troubles of mind: its a Sabbath after six days work. It is beyond all earthly crowns, the runners have envy not one another, nay they help and further one another, and are glad of one another's forwardness: all are heirs, all happy, all shall be crowned, and with an incorruptible crown, an inheritance that fadeth not, but is undefiled; and such an one as is kept for us,