A12184:747
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.
By this means also we may try our profession: §6do we come by faith and religion, with pleasure and ease? alas this is no sign of any powerful strong work in us, its easy to go to Church, to hear the word, or read it, to receive the sacraments, contrarily if we find an inward change that our hearts are so altered as we can over rule our members contrary to our lusts, and contrary to occasions, then stronger is he that ruleth in us, than he that ruleth in ⟨p. 254⟩the world, 1 Joh. 4.4. it is easy to resist a temptation where none is, the mighty power of Christ is seen, when being environed with temptations, we are enabled to resist: I pray saith Christ, that thou should keep them from evil in the world, and not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, Joh, 17.15. If we be under crosses, if this spirit and power of Christ be in us, it will enable us to bear all patiently, it will keep us from murmuring and fretting. It will also convince us of our natural estate, so as we shall see evident necessity of Gods almighty power to change us; this made the Apostle Paul and the Jailer to look about them for help, Lord what wouldest thou have me to do? and thus it will make us never to give God rest, nor Christ respite, till that power that shall raise up our bodies, do raise up also our souls, and he shine in us by his spirit, that did bring light out of darkness, and fashion us as in his wisdom shall be most meet.
By this meanes also wee may try our profession: §6doe we come by faith and religion, with pleasure and ease? alas this is no signe of any powerfull strong worke in us, its easie to goe to Church, to heare the word, or reade it, to receive the sacraments, contrarily if we finde an inward change that our hearts are so altered as we can over rule our members contrary to our lusts, and contrary to occasions, then stronger is he that ruleth in us, than hee that ruleth in ⟨p. 254⟩the world, 1 Ioh. 4.4. it is easie to resist a temptation where none is, the mightie power of Christ is seene, when being invironed with temptations, we are inabled to resist: I pray saith Christ, that thou should keepe them from evill in the world, and not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, Ioh, 17.15. If we be under crosses, if this spirit and power of Christ be in us, it will enable us to beare all patiently, it will keepe us from murmuring and fretting. It will also convince us of our naturall estate, so as wee shall see evident necessitie of Gods almighty power to change us; this made the Apostle Paul and the Iaylor to looke about them for helpe, Lord what wouldest thou have me to doe? and thus it will make us never to give God rest, nor Christ respite, till that power that shall raise up our bodies, doe raise up also our soules, and he shine in us by his spirit, that did bring light out of darknes, and fashion us as in his wisedome shall be most meet.