A12186:337
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.
2And as God showed more power, so he showed more mercy in the work of Redemption, then in the Creation. In the Creation, there he did good to a good man; Adam was created good, and he should (had he stood) have continued in a good condition: but in the work of Redemption, God doth good to evil men; God transcends in his love, because the glory of his mercy reigns in the work of Redemption: so that the power, and wisdom, and mercy, being greater in the work of Redemption, it requires a more super-natural power in the soul to apprehend this, then any other Truth; as the work in Redemption is more glorious, so the Divine grace and virtue in the soul, that makes use of this, (which is Faith) it must be more excellent then all other Graces whatsoever. And as it must be God, that must save and redeem us, so it must be God that must persuade the heart of this: as Christ, who is God, must perform the work of Redemption; so it must be God the Holy-Ghost, that must persuade the heart, that God loves it so much, and ⟨p. 153⟩raise the heart to apprehend it, and make use of it; no less power will do it. Let us (I say) have great conceits of this excellent grace of Faith; All men have not Faith: it is a rare grace, a rare jewel. When Christ comes, shall he find Faith in the world? Certainly, it is a Mystery, for a man to believe in Christ; for a natural man to be brought to rely upon Christ; To you it is given to believe, saith the Apostle: he might well say, it is given, it is no ordinary gift neither. Therefore let us pray with the Disciples, Lord increase our Faith; and with the poor man in the Gospel, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
2And as God shewed more power, so he shewed more mercy in the worke of Redemption, then in the Creation. In the Creation, there he did good to a good man; Adam was created good, and he should (had he stood) have continued in a good condition: but in the worke of Redemption, God doth good to evill men; God transcends in his love, because the glory of his mercie reignes in the worke of Redemption: so that the power, and wisedome, and mercie, being greater in the worke of Redemption, it requires a more super-natural power in the soule to apprehend this, then any other Truth; as the worke in Redemption is more glorious, so the Divine grace and vertue in the soule, that makes use of this, (which is Faith) it must be more excellent then all other Graces whatsoever. And as it must be God, that must save and redeeme us, so it must be God that must peswade the heart of this: as Christ, who is God, must performe the worke of Redemption; so it must be God the Holy-Ghost, that must perswade the heart, that God loves it so much, and