A12186:399
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.
It is an argument of a great deal of Atheism, 1and infidelity in our hearts, (as indeed our base nature is prone to sink down, and to be carried away with present things) that professing to believe that Christ is risen, and ascended into heaven, and that he is there for us; yet that we should be plodding, and plotting altogether for the Earth: as if there were no other heaven, as if there were no happiness but that which is to be found below. There is nothing here, that can satisfy the capacious nature of man; therefore, we should not rest in any thing here, considering ⟨p. 196⟩the great things that are reserved for us, where Christ is in glory. Therefore, when we find our souls falling down of themselves, or drawn downward (to base cares, and earthly contentments) by any thing here below; let us labour to raise up our selves with such meditations: I know not any more fruitful, then to consider the glory to come, and the certainty of it. Christ is taken into glory, not for himself only, but for all his:2 for, Where I am (saith he) it is my will that they be there also. Christ should lose his prayer, if we should not follow him to Heaven: it is not only his prayer, but his will; and he is in Heaven, to make good his will. The Wills of men may be frustrate, because they are dead; but he lives to make good his own will; and his will is, that we be where he is. Now, if a man believe this, can he be base and earthly-minded? Certainly, no; Where our treasure is, our hearts will be there also, by the rule of Christ; where the body is, the Eagles will resort: if we did make these things our treasure, we would mount above earthly things; there is nothing in the world would be sufficient for us, if we had that esteem of Christ, and the glory where Christ is, as we should and might have.
It is an argument of a great deale of Atheisme, 1and infidelitie in our hearts, (as indeed our base nature is prone to sinke downe, and to be carryed away with present things) that professing to beleeve that Christ is risen, and ascended into heaven, and that he is there for us; yet that we should be plodding, and plotting altogether for the Earth: as if there were no other heaven, as if there were no happinesse but that which is to be found below. There is nothing here, that can satisfie the capacious nature of man; therefore, we should not rest in any thing here, considering