A12186:778
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.
1But our kindness must be most to those that are nearest God, to those of the family and household of faith, to those that God loves most we must be most kind: to whom God hath dispensed the greatest things, we should not deny the less.
1But our kindnesse must be most to those that are nearest God, to those of the family and houshold of faith, to those that God loves most we must bee most kinde: to whom God hath dispensed the greatest things, wee should not deny the lesse.
- 1But especially to the good.
Indeed, it is a hard matter to give wisely in these ⟨p. 75⟩times, and not to abuse the sweet affection and grace of pity, (it is an affection in all: but it is a grace in them that are good) because there are so many wretched people, that live without God, without Church, without Common-wealth, without marriage, without baptism, like beasts. If any thing be an object of pity, certainly this is; that there are so many that carry Gods image on them, that are Gods creatures, and for ought we know such as Christ died for, that they should be suffered to live irregular, debauched, and base lives, scandalous to the Church and State. And without question, if things be not better looked unto, these will be instruments of much mischief by Gods just judgment: because there be good laws, that are not executed. The best mercy to such, is to see them set on work and to give them correction. But then for such as are beginning the world, that are poor, and cannot set up, and those that have the Church of God in their families, that are ready to fall, and a little relief would keep them, that they fall not into inordinate courses, it is mercy to set them up and maintain them; and also by upholding those that are in the ministry. There are many ways in the Church and State: A wise man can never want objects of mercy and charity, as Christ saith, The poor you shall have alway with you: but (as I said) we must labour for a spirit of wisdom, to do good as we should, and not to feed Drones, instead of Bees.