A12186:735
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.
1Doth all that we have in Christ, come from grace, the grace in us, and comforts, and outward things merely from grace? Then esteem them ⟨p. 51⟩more from the spring from whence they come, then for themselves. The necessaries of this life, food, and raiment, they are but mean things in themselves: but if we consider what spring they come from, from the blood of Christ that hath purchased them, and from the grace and love of Christ: grace will add value to them: grace will make all sweet that we have, when we can say, I have this from the grace of God: as Jacob said, These are the children that God hath given me of his bounty and grace. This is the provision, the help, and comfort, that I have from the grace of Christ: for the same grace that gives Heaven, gives necessaries and daily bread. Let us look on every thing, and put the respect of grace upon every thing. It is grace that we meet with afflictions whereby we are corrected; God might have let us go on in the hardness of our hearts; look upon every thing as a fruit of Gods grace and favour. What is the reason that we are no more thankful for common benefits? Because we look not on them as issuing from grace. Take away grace the free favour of God, extract this quintessence; take the love of God out of things, what are they? Let a man be rich, if he have it not from the love and mercy of God, what will all be in time, but snares? Let a man be great in the world, if it be not from the grace of God, what is it? As God saith, I will curse you in your blessings: without grace we are cursed in those things that else are blessings: take grace from Adam in Paradise, and Adam is afraid in Paradise, and hides his head. Take the favour ⟨p. 52⟩of the King from Haman and nothing will do him good: take the favour of the King from Absalom, and all other liberties that he had are nothing worth, when he must not go to the Court: so take the grace and favour of God away that sweetens all, they will prove snares, and we shall find by experience that God will curse us in all our blessings. Let us labour therefore to have a sensible feeling of this free grace and mercy of God in Christ.
1Doth all that we have in Christ, come from grace, the grace in us, and comforts, and outward things meerely from grace? Then esteeme them