A12186:748
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.
The Gospel hath as strong encouragements, and stronger to be good and gracious then the Law. Grace enforceth strictness of life more sweetly and strongly then the Law. The Law saith, We must not take the name of God in vain: and we must be subject to our superiors, and to live chastely, &c. under a curse. Doth not the grace of God teach this as well as the Law, and from a higher ground? It teacheth the same thing by arguments taken from love and grace. A man perisheth by the Law in such sins, but then there is a pardon offered, if men will come under the government of Christ, and lead new lives: but if men refuse, there is a superadded guilt; not only ⟨p. 62⟩justice condemns such wretches, but mercy it self: because they refuse mercy upon these terms rather then they will leave their sinful courses; mercy and justice both meet to condemn such persons. Let us take heed therefore of abusing the mercy and love of God: for then we quite overthrow Gods end in the Gospel: for why doth he convey all to us by love, and mercy, and grace, but that it may work the same disposition again in us to him? or else we overturn the end of the Gospel: Let us take heed of this as ever we will find interest in this grace, without which we are the miserablest wretches that live: it were better for us that we had never heard of Christ and the Gospel, then to live in sins against conscience, under the manifestation and publication of grace.
The Gospell hath as strong encouragements, and stronger to be good and gracious then the Law. Grace inforceth strictnesse of life more sweetly and strongly then the Law. The Law saith, We must not take the name of God in vaine: and we must be subject to our superiours, and to live chastly, &c. under a curse. Doth not the grace of God teach this as well as the Law, and from a higher ground? It teacheth the same thing by arguments taken from love and grace. A man perisheth by the Law in such sins, but then there is a pardon offered, if men will come under the government of Christ, and lead new lives: but if men refuse, there is a superadded guilt; not only ⟨p. 62⟩justice condemnes such wretches, but mercy it selfe: because they refuse mercy upon these termes rather then they will leave their sinfull courses; mercy and justice both meet to condemne such persons. Let us take heed therefore of abusing the mercy and love of God: for then we quite overthrow Gods end in the Gospell: for why doth he conveigh all to us by love, and mercy, and grace, but that it may worke the same disposition againe in us to him? or else we overturne the end of the Gospell: Let us take heed of this as ever we will finde interest in this grace, without which we are the miserablest wretches that live: it were better for us that we had never heard of Christ and the Gospell, then to live in sins against conscience, under the manifestation and publication of grace.