A12186:265
Light from heaven discovering the fountain opened. Angels acclamations. Churches riches. Rich poverty. In…Light from heaven discovering the fountaine opened. Angels acclamations. Churches riches. Rich povertie. In…
Light from heaven discovering the fountain opened. Angels acclamations. Churches riches. Rich poverty. In four treatises. By the late learned and reverend divine, Rich. Sibs, Doctor in Divinity, Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Gray's-Inn. Published according to the authors own appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent imperfect copies.Light from heaven discovering the fountaine opened. Angels acclamations. Churches riches. Rich povertie. In foure treatises. By the late learned and reverend divine, Rich. Sibs, Doctor in Divinitie, Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Grayes-Inne. Published according to the authors owne appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent imperfect copies.
London: printed by E. Purslow and Richard Badger for N. Bourne, 1638
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.
1And because people are in a contrary state to Christ; to preach Christ, is even to begin with the Law, to discover to people their estate by nature: a man can never preach the Gospel, that makes not way for the Gospel, by showing and convincing people what they are, out of Christ. Who will marry with Christ, but those that know their own beggary and misery, out of Christ? That he must be had of necessity, or else they dye in debts eternally; he must be had, or else they are eternally miserable. Now, when people are convinced of this, then they make out of themselves to Christ. This therefore must be done, because it is in order that which makes way to the preaching of Christ; for, the full stomach despiseth an honeycomb: Who cares for Balm, that is not sick? Who cares for Christ, that sees not the necessity of Christ? Therefore we see John Baptist came before Christ, to make way for Christ, to level the mountains, to cast down whatsoever exalts it self in man. He that is to preach, must discern what mountains there be between mens hearts and Christ, and he must labour to discover themselves to themselves, and lay flat all the pride of ⟨p. 119⟩men in the dust; for, the Word of God is forcible to pull down strong holds and imaginations, and to bring all into subjection to Christ. And indeed, though a man should not preach the Law;2 yet, by way of implication, all these things are wrapped in the Gospel. What need a Saviour, unless we were lost? What need Christ to be Wisdom to us, if we were not fools in our selves? What need Christ be Sanctification to us, if we were not defiled in our selves? Wat need he be Redemption, if we were not lost and sold in our selves to Satan, and under his bondage? Therefore, all is to make way for Christ; not only to open the Mysteries of Christ, but in the opening and application, to let us see the necessity of Christ. In a word, being to bring Christ and the Church together, our aim must be, to persuade people to come out of their estate they are in, to come and take Christ; whatsoever makes for this, that course we must use, though it be with never so much abasing of our selves. Therefore the Gospel is promulgate in a sweet manner;3 I beseech you, Brethren, by the mercies of God, &c. The Law comes with, Cursed, Cursed; but now in the Gospel, Christ is preached with sweet alluring; I beseech you, Brethren;