A12186:65
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.
1No: All the Graces are Mysteries, every Grace.2 Let a man once know it, and he shall find, that there is a Mystery in Faith; that the earthly soul of man should be carried above it self,3 to believe supernatural Truths, and to depend upon that he sees not; to sway the life, by reasons spiritual: That the heart of man should believe, that a man in trouble should carry himself quietly and patiently, from supernatural supports and grounds, it is a Mystery: That a man should be as a Rock, in the middest of a storm, to stand unmoveable, it is a Mystery: That the carriage of the soul should be turned universally, another way; that the judgement and affections should be turned backward,4 as it were; that he that was proud before, should now be humble; that he that was ambitious before, should now despise the vain World; that he that was given to his lusts and vanities before, should now, on the contrary, be serious, and heavenly minded: here is a Mystery indeed, when all is turned backward. Therefore we see how Nicodemus (as wise as he was) it was a Riddle to him, when our blessed Saviour spake to him of the New-Birth, that a man should be wholly ⟨p. 13⟩changed, and new-moulded; that a man should be the same, and not the same; the same man for soul and body, yet not the same, in regard of a supernatural life and being put into him, carrying him another way, leading him in another manner, by other rules and respects, as much different from other men, as a man differs from a beast. A strange Mystery, that raiseth a man above other men, as much as another man is above other creatures. For a man to be content with his condition, in all changes, and varieties; when he is cast and tossed up and down in the world, to have a mind unmoveable, it is a Mystery: Therefore S. Paul saith, Philip 4. I have entered into Religion (as it were) I have consecrated my self, the word is wondrous significant; I have learned this Mystery, to be content. It is a Mystery, for a man to be tossed up and down, and yet to have a contented mind; I can want, and I can abound, I can do all through Christ, that strengtheneth me: Why? I have consecrate my self to Christ, and Religion, and from them I have learned this point, to be content. Therefore in the Text here (as we shall see afterwards) not only Divine Truths are a Mystery, Great is the Mystery of Godliness;