A12186:755
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.
First of all let us look often into the grace of Christ,1 the grace and free mercy of God in giving Christ:1 consider how God hath laid forth all his riches in Christ, and consider how miserable we had been without Christ, even next unto Devils in misery. A man is the most miserable creature under Heaven, if he have not interest in Christ, he is a lost creature. Let us dwell upon the meditation and consideration of this till we feel our hearts warmed.3 If one pass through the Sun shine, it doth not much heat; but if the Sun beat upon a thing, there will be a reflection of heat: so let us stay upon this consideration of the infinite love and mercy of Christ to us wretches; and this warming the heart, it will transform us to the likeness of Christ, as the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 3.18.4 We all as in mirror beholding the Glory of God, (he means the glory of Gods mercy in Christ) We are transformed and changed from glory to glory, from one degree of grace to another. The serious consideration of the love and mercy of God in ⟨p. 64⟩Christ, it is a wondrous sweet thing: and it hath a transforming power with it.5 And that is the reason why the Gospel converts men, and not the Law. The Law never converts a man, but (together with the Spirit) it will cast him down: but the Gospel, which is the promulgation of grace and mercy to penitent sinners, that confess their sins and forsake them, and come under a new government of grace: the publishing of this hath the spirit of grace with it to work conversion; therefore it is called the ministry of the Spirit: because the Spirit goes with the doctrine of grace to change us, and make us gracious, to persuade us that God loves us, and to stir us up to perform all duties in that sweet affection that God requires in the Gospel, the affection of love. Therefore if we be or ever were converted, it is this way: our hearts are wrought on by the consideration of the love and mercy of God in Christ; so that love begets love, and mercy begets a sweetness in us to God again. In the nature of the thing it cannot be otherwise, when the soul stands convinced of the sweet mercy of God in Christ; and of the sweet love of Christ, who being God, became man, to take our nature, and suffer the punishment that was due to us: and is now in Heaven appearing and making intercession for us;