A12186:738
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.
1Lastly, this grace of Christ being free (that we neither desired it, nor deserved it;) why may not Manasseh take hope as well as David: if he submit himself, though he were so horrible a sinner as he was? Why may not Paul a persecutor find mercy as well as Timothy, that was brought up to goodness from his youth? It is free: therefore let no man despair that hath been a wicked liver in former time. The best stand in need of grace, and it is of grace that they are what they are, as S. Paul saith, By grace I am that I am; and the worst, if they come in and submit themselves, and take Christ for their Lord, and submit to his government, and will be ruled by his word and Spirit, and not continue to live in rebellious courses, they may partake of this grace.
1Lastly, this grace of Christ being free (that we neither desired it, nor deserved it;) why may not Manasses take hope as well as David: if he submit himselfe, though hee were so horrible a sinner as he was? Why may not Paul a persecutor finde mercy as well as Timothy, that was brought up to goodnesse from his youth? It is free: therefore let no man despaire that hath beene a wicked liver in former time. The best stand in need of grace, and it is of grace that they are what they are, as S. Paul saith, By grace I am that I am; and the worst, if they come in and submit themselves, and take Christ for their Lord, and submit to his government, and will be ruled by his word and Spirit, and not continue to live in rebellious courses, they may partake of this grace.
- 1Not to despair, Christs grace is free.Not to despaire, Christs grace is free.
But again, let none presume; for though it be free grace, yet we must confess our sins, and forsake ⟨p. 55⟩them, or else we shall find no grace: we must be poor in Spirit, and sensible of our misery: for God enricheth those that are empty and poor, The rich he sends empty away. We must sue to God for grace by the Spirit of grace; and take heed that we turn not these offers of grace to occasions of wantonness, and so divide Christ, to take out of Christ what we list, and leave what we list: we must know that Christ as he is our Jesus to save us, so he is our Lord, as he saith here, The Lord Jesus Christ: we must submit to him for the time to come, and then we shall find experience of his sweet grace.