A12186:382
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.
6In all disconsolations, there is a world of comfort hence. We must not think of […] as if his honours had changed his manners, (as it is among men) that now he is become stately, that he doth not regard his poor Church. No such matter: he regards his poor Church now he is in Heaven, as much as he ever did. The members, here cannot suffer any thing, but the Head in Heaven is sensible of it: as it is, Act. 9 Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me? 2The foot is trod upon, and the tongue complains. Our blessed Saviour is not like Pharaohs unkind Butler, that forgot Joseph, when himself was out of prison. Christ being advanced to honour now, forgets us not here. No: he is as good Joseph, that was sent into Egypt, to provide for all the Family before hand. So this our Joseph, the great Steward of Heaven ⟨p. 181⟩and Earth, he is gone to provide for us all, against we come to Heaven: he forgets us not, he disdains not to look on things below, he considers every poor Christian; he is as merciful now, as he was when he was upon Earth: as you have it largely proved, Heb. 4.7.3 He was man for this end, that he might be a merciful High-Priest; and he is so in Heaven, and pities all our infirmities: it is not here, Out of sight,4 out of mind; for (as I said) he hath us in his breast: I, and he is with us, by his Spirit, to the end of the world. He is taken up to Heaven in his Body, but his Spirit (which is his general Vicar) is here with us to the end of the world: I will send you the Comforter, and he shall abide alway with you. And it is better for us to have the Comforter here, without his bodily presence; then to have his bodily presence, without the abundance of his Spirit: as it was better with the Disciples, when he was taken up to Heaven, and was present by his Spirit, then it was before. We lose nothing therefore by the ascension of Christ; it was for us: he was given for us, borne for us; he lived for us, he died for us, he rose, and ascended to Heaven for our good. It is good for you, that I go; it was to provide a place for us, and to send the Comforter: all was for our good, whatsoever he did, in his abasement and exaltation.