A12184:70
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.
To the duty: which is to beware. Which word signifies; First, to discern of, then to avoid: and §3because those that are aware of evil, by nature will avoid it. therefore beware, here intends both discerning and avoiding of evil. For the Church of God in this world is ever subject to danger, and God suffers it to be so: First, to try who be true, and who false. And secondly, to try them that are good, and to be as an evidence to them of their own estates, so as where such trial, and danger is, it is true, ingeniosum est esse Christianum.
To the dutie: which is to beware. Which word signifies; First, to discerne of, then to avoid: and §3because those that are aware of evill, by nature will avoid it. therfore beware, here intends both discerning and avoiding of evil. For the Church of God in this world is ever subject to danger, and God suffers it to be so: First, to try who be true, and who false. And secondly, to try them that are good, and to be as an evidence to them of their owne estates, so as where such triall, and danger is, it is true, ingeniosum est esse Christianum.
But concerning the words: Dogs, Concision, Evil workers, they all signify the same thing, and he repeats the word beware, thrice: to show the necessity thereof, take heed of them that urge works of the law with Doctrines of ⟨p. 23⟩faith, especially of Pastors. Nay take heed of these (for so the word in the original is) these Dogs. By Concision, he means those that urged Circumcision, when it was out of date, and when it was dangerous to be admitted of; But observe the term, the Holy Ghost calls these Dogs, a strange term, and such an one as I should not have dared to have given them, had not the holy Spirit led the way thereunto: and therefore since it is so, let us not be more modest than he is; but boldly affirm, that wicked men are Dogs. 1