A12186:500
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.
1First then, we hold tune with the blessed Angels, in giving glory to God, when we exalt God in our souls, above all creatures and things in the world, when we lift him up in his own place, and let him be in our souls, as he is in himself, in the most holy; God is glorious, especially in his mercy and goodness; let him be so in our hearts, in these sweet Attributes, above all our unworthiness and sin: for God hath not glory from us, till we give him the highest place in our love, and joy and delight, and all those affections that are set upon good, when they are set upon him as the chief good, then we give him his due place in our souls, we ascribe to him that Divinity, and excellency, and eminency, that is due to him. And this especially appears in competition and opposition of other things;2 when we will not offend God for any creature; when we can say as the Psalmist, Whom have I in heaven but thee, 3and what is there in earth, in comparison of thee? Therefore let us ask our own thoughts often; what that is, that our affections ⟨p. 233⟩of delight, and joy and love, and all the sweetness and marrow of our souls is spent on, and runs after? is it the sweet love of God in Christ, the excellent state we have in Christ? it is an excellent sign. Surely, the blessed Saints in heaven, and those that are in earth, that look for heaven, are thus disposed for the most part, especially when they set themselves in their devotions before God. Let us examine what is highest in our souls: The loving kindness of the Lord, is better then life it self, saith the Psalmist. Then we give God glory, when we set light by life it self, as holy Saint Paul could say, What, do you tell me of suffering at Jerusalem? I am not only ready to do that, but to die for the name of Christ: and in Philip. 1.4 So God may be magnified by my life or death. I am at a point, so if the question be, whether we shall sacrifice this blood, and life of ours, or dishonour God, and wrong the Gospel, or be any way prejudicial to the truth known, when we are ready to part with all, with father and mother, and houses and lands, and all for Christ; then with the Angels we say, Glory be to God on high; therefore in a state of opposition, when we cannot enjoy both, let us leave the creature, and cleave to God.