A12186:558
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.
1But to come to some trials, whether we have this peace made or no, whether we can say in spirit and truth,1 there is a peace established between God and us. For a ground of this, that may lead us to further trial, know that Christ hath reconciled God and us together, not only by obtaining peace, by way of satisfaction, but by way of application also; whom he dyed for, to obtain peace, he gives a spirit of application to improve that peace, to improve Christ the Prince of peace: as their own; for there is a mutual commerce between God and man, who is an understanding creature; and there is nothing that God doth for man, if we look to the general and head of benefits, but there is somewhat in man wrought, by the Spirit to answer it again. God is reconciled to man in Christ, man must be reconciled to God in Christ, in 2 Cor. 5. God was in Christ, 3reconciling the world; when he was on the Cross, God was there reconciled in Christ. Is that all? no, God by us entreats you to be reconciled to God. A strange condescending, that God should entreat us to be good to our own souls, by his Ministers, We entreat you to be reconciled, that is, to accept of the reconciliation wrought by Christ, and to lay aside all weapons of rebellion, whereby you fought against God, in the course of your vanity, we beseech you to be reconciled, and to repent, because the ⟨p. 263⟩Kingdom of God is at hand: so that except there be reconciliation wrought by a spirit of application on mans part, it is not sufficient, that God is reconciled in Christ, because God will alway have a reflex act from man; as he chooseth man, so man by grace chooseth him, as he loves and delights in man, so he will have man by a spirit of sweetness, delight in him again above all the world; Whom have I in heaven but thee? so there is some▪what wrought by the Spirit to God again. Why should God be at good terms with us, but to enjoy the friendship of his poor creature? unless therefore there be a gracious disposition wrought in the creature, to look back, to love, and delight in God, as God doth in him; there is no actual reconciliation, there must be a forcible application by the Spirit: if God should not give a spirit of application, as well as Christ obtain heaven for us;