A12186:384
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.
Therefore, let us not take scandal at the present sight of things. We stand amazed, to see the state of Europe at this time; but for our comfort, let us consider, that Christ is taken up to glory, and he sits in Heaven, and rules his Church, and will guide all these Warts to a good and gracious end.1 He sits at the Sterne; the Ship may be tossed where Christ sleeps, but it cannot be drowned: the House that is built upon a Rock, it may be blown upon, it shall never overthrown: the Bush wherein the fire is, it may burn, but it shall never be consumed: the Church, wherein Christ rules and governs, it may be tossed, it ⟨p. 183⟩shall never be overcome and subdued. Nay, by all these things that the Church suffers, Christ rules, and exerciseth his Churches graces, & mortifies his Churches corruptions. It is necessary there should be some change: standing waters breed Frogs,2 and other base creatures; so it is with Christians: if there be not some exercise by afflictions, what kind of vices grow? As we see in these times of peace, what kind of lives most men live; that we may take up an admiration, that God should be so merciful, to continue his Truth to accompany of proud base carnal persons, that lead lives (under the Gospel) no better then if they were in Paganism. Therefore we cannot look for any good, without further abasement. And certainly, if troubles come, we should many of us be better then we are now: afflictions would be so far from doing us harm, that they would refine us: we shall lose nothing, but that that doth us hurt; that, that we may well spare; that, that hinders our joy and comfort.
Therefore, let us not take scandall at the present sight of things. We stand amazed, to see the state of Europe at this time; but for our comfort, let us consider, that Christ is taken up to glory, and he sits in Heaven, and rules his Church, and will guide all these Wartes to a good and gracious end.1 He sits at the Sterne; the Ship may be tossed where Christ sleepes, but it cannot be drowned: the House that is built upon a Rock, it may be blowne upon, it shall never overthrowne: the Bush wherein the fire is, it may burne, but it shall never be consumed: the Church, wherein Christ rules and governes, it may be tossed, it