A12186:850
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
THE RICH POVERTY: OR, The Poor-mans Riches.THE RICH POVERTY: OR, The Poore-mans Riches.
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.
5It is alway joined likewise with a wondrous abasing of himself: he thinks himself not worth the ground he goes on, till God hath mercy on him in Jesus Christ. This is not so sensible in those ⟨p. 111⟩that are brought up in the Church, or that have religious thoughts put into them continually in both kinds▪ both concerning their own estate by nature, and withal concerning grace and mercy in Christ. Therefore grace is instilled into them by little and little, and the change is not so sensible. But where the conversion is anything sudden, from an ill course of life to a better: God works such a poverty of spirit before he bring a man to Christ. In Mat. 5.2 it is the beginning of all happiness, the blessedness that leads to the rest, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. And indeed those that are poor in spirit, are blessed, though they have not yet the sense of Gods love so much as they desire: for this draws on all the rest (as I shall show afterwards) To be poor in spirit therefore, is to see that we have no good in our selves, that we are beggars and bankrupts, and have no means to pay, or satisfy: and this stirs up desire, and the use of means and all the qualifications that follow there, Hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and mourning, and meekness. For this will follow; a man that is poor in spirit, say what you will to him, he is so tractable and meek; let God do what he will with him so he give him grace, if he will cast him down, so be it. What shall we do to be saved? Implying a pliableness to take any course, he is willing to do or to suffer anything.
5It is alway joyned likewise with a wondrous abasing of himselfe: he thinks himselfe not worth the ground he goes on, till God hath mercy on him in Iesus Christ. This is not so sensible in those ⟨p. 111⟩that are brought up in the Church, or that have religious thoughts put into them continually in both kindes▪ both concerning their owne estate by nature, and withall concerning grace and mercy in Christ. Therefore grace is instilled into them by little and little, and the change is not so sensible. But where the conversion is anything sudden, from an ill course of life to a better: God workes such a poverty of spirit before he bring a man to Christ. In