A12186:860
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.
Nay, I say more, in every notion when we are in the state of grace, and have had the beginnings ⟨p. 116⟩of the new creature in us, there needs poverty of spirit, in regard of our own inability to perform every action. For even as it is in our form, the life and soul, there is a need of it in every moving and stirring: so there is a need of the spirit of grace (which is as the form, and life, and being of a Christian) to every holy action; In him we live, and move, and have our being, saith the Apostle. [In him:] that is, in God reconciled to Christ, we have not only our being; that is, our form: but in him we live, and move to every particular act. We are no wiser in particular things, then God makes us on the sudden: the wi•est man will be a fool, if God leave him to his own wit. We are no stronger in every particular act that needs strength, then God supplies us with spiritual strength. We are no holier, then God by his Spirit shines on us, and raiseth our souls in particular actions. So that it is not only necessary, that we have grace at the first to make us Christians; but we must have a perpetual regiment of the Spirit, from whence we must have an influence to every particular act. Though we have grace, yet we cannot bring forth that grace to act without new grace.1 Even as trees, though they be fitted to bear fruit, as the Vine, &c. yet without the influence of the Heavens, they cannot put forth that fitness in fruit: so though we be fitted by the Spirit of God, yet we cannot put it forth to particular acts when occasion serves, without the influence of Heaven to promote and further that grace, and applying our spirits to every holy action by ⟨p. 117⟩removing the impediments that would hinder it, adding new supply and strength to help grace. If the temptations be too strong, as sometimes they are, former grace will not serve without a new supply of strength. As he that may carry a lesser burden, cannot carry a greater without new strength: so in every temptation there is required more strength then the former; and in every new action there is required, not only a continuance of grace, but a fresh supply of stronger grace.
Nay, I say more, in every notion when wee are in the state of grace, and have had the beginnings