A12186:283
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.
Let us therefore set a price upon Gods Ordinance: there must be this dispensation;1 Christ must be preached; Preaching, is the Chariot that carries Christ up and down the world;2 Christ doth not profit, but as he is preached: For, supernatural benefits, if they be not discovered, they are lost; as we say of Jewels, if they be not discovered, what is the glory of them? Therefore there must be a discovery by Preaching, which is the Ordinance of God for that end. Whereupon God stirred up the Apostles before, that were the main converters of the world: they had some Prerogatives above all other Preachers, they had an immediate Calling,3 extraordinary Gifts, and a general Commission; in them, was established a Ministry to the end of the world▪ Christ, when he ascended on high, and led captivity captive, (he would give no mean Gift then, when he was to ascend triumphantly to Heaven) the greatest Gift he could give, was, some to be Prophets, some Apostles, some Teachers, for the building up of the Body of Christ, till we all meet a perfect man in Christ. I will send them Pastors according to my own heart, saith God,4 Jer. 3. It is a Gift of all Gifts, the Ordinance of Preaching; God esteems it so, Christ esteems it so, and so should we esteem it.
Let us therefore set a price upon Gods Ordinance: there must be this dispensation;1 Christ must be preached; Preaching, is the Chariot that carryes Christ up and downe the world;2 Christ doth not profit, but as he is preached: For, supernaturall benefits, if they be not discovered, they are lost; as we say of Jewels, if they be not discovered, what is the glory of them? Therefore there must be a discoverie by Preaching, which is the Ordinance of God for that end. Whereupon God stirred up the Apostles before, that were the maine converters of the world: they had some Prerogatives above all other Preachers, they had an immediate Calling,