A12186:330
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.
Again,2 if we consider the parties that carried the Gospel, whereby the World was subdued; a company of weak men, unlearned men, none of the deepest for knowledge; only they had the Holy-Ghost, to teach and instruct, to strengthen and fortify them, (which the World took no ⟨p. 148⟩notice of) men of mean condition, of mean esteem, and few in number. And these men they came not with weapons, or outward defence, but merely with the Word, and with suffering▪ their weapons, were nothing but patience, and Preaching, offering the Word of Christ to them, and suffering indignities, as S. Austin saith; the World was not overcome by fighting,2 but by suffering: So the Lambs overcame the Lyons, the Doves overcame the Birds of prey, the Sheep overcame the Wolves. I send you (saith Christ) as Sheep among Wolves: and how? by nothing but by carrying a Message, and suffering constantly and undauntedly, for going with their Message; for they had cruel bloody Laws made against them, that were executed to the utmost: yet by these means they overcame; by Preaching, and sealing the Truth that they taught by suffering: a strange kind of conquest. The Turks conquer to their Religion, but it is by violent means; it is a Religion of blood: but here (as I said) meanness overcame greatness, ignorance overcame learning, simplicity overcame pride, baseness overcame glory; a Mystery, in this respect.
Againe,2 if we consider the parties that carryed the Gospel, whereby the World was subdued; a companie of weake men, unlearned men, none of the deepest for knowledge; onely they had the Holy-Ghost, to teach and instruct, to strengthen and fortifie them, (which the World tooke no ⟨p. 148⟩notice of) men of meane condition, of meane esteeme, and few in number. And these men they came not with weapons, or outward defence, but meerely with the Word, and with suffering▪ their weapons, were nothing but patience, and Preaching, offering the Word of Christ to them, and suffering indignities, as S. Austin sayth; the World was not overcome by fighting,