A12186:741
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.
Saith the Apostle here,1 you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A man may know his riches, he may know his interest in Christ. The Apostle useth it here, as an argument to persuade them to good works: that that is used as an argument, must be known before the thing can be persuaded. A thing cannot be made light by that which is darker then it self: but the Apostle here useth this as an argument, you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that these truths are taken for granted, That all grace comes by the poverty of Christ. And then that we may know our selves to be interested in it, that Christs poverty was for us. A man that is a true Christian may know his share and interest in the grace of Christ: or else how should he be persuaded by this as an argument, if he know it not? Or how shall he be comfortable, except ⟨p. 56⟩he know that he hath interest in Christ? It may be known out of the Scriptures, as a history, that Christ is gracious for matter of fact: the Devils know it as well as we, and Judas knew it: but he speaks here of a knowledge with interest; you know it by experience,2 the Spirit witnesseth to your spirits so much, that Christ gave himself for you. I know the grace of Christ as mine, as belonging to me, as if there were no man in the world besides: and as this knowledge is with interest, so it stirs up to due. All other knowledge, but knowledge with interest, may stand with desperation; and what good will it do to know in general that Christ came to save sinners, and yet go to Hell for all that▪ It is the knowledge that applies Christ in particular, that saves a man; that knowledge that determines the general to my own person. Therefore we must labour for this. Christ was poor for me, He loved me, and gave himself for me. The love and free grace of Christ, it may, and it ought to be known. We ought to give all diligence, to make our calling and election sure. It may be known,3 but it cannot be known without a great deal of diligence and self denial. This knowledge is a super-added grace. It is one thing to be a sound Christian, and another thing to know it. A man cannot know it by reflection, but he must first be good in exercise; he must find grace working, he must give all diligence to make his calling and election sure to him. It may be sure in it self, but it cannot be sure to him without diligence: