A12186:871
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.
Again,4 a soul that is thus disposed, that is poor in spirit, it is willing to resign it self to Christs government, with self-denial of any thing, it is able to do of it self: it is ready to say, Lord, I have neither wit of mine own to govern my self, nor any strength and ability of mine own, therefore I put my self upon thy government, I desire to follow thy light, and to go on in thy strength. There is alway a resignation to Christs government, and that in fear and trembling: for whom we resign our selves unto, surely we will have a care not to displease them. A dependant ⟨p. 124⟩life is alway an awful life: for when a man hath resigned himself to the government of another, and knows he must depend upon him, he will have a care not to displease such an one: for he thinks; if I displease him, he will withdraw his maintenance, and countenance from me, and then what am I? so the soul that thinks it hath all from God, and from the spirit of Christ; it resigns it self to the spirit of Christ, and withal, it is wondrous fearful not to grieve and displease the Spirit: for he thinks with himself, my life is but a dependant life, my graces are but dependant: let God but withdraw the beams of his Spirit, and I sink; let him withdraw his comfort and his strength, what am I? nothing but darkness, and deadness, and confusion. Those therefore that give not themselves up to Christs government, but are governed by rules of policy, by the example of others, and have base dependence upon others; they know not what spiritual poverty is: they see there is a sufficiency in themselves to rule and govern themselves, as if Christs wisdom were not sufficient; they are not so disposed as the Apostle requires, they work not out their salvation with fear and trembling, because God gives the will and the deed. 2The meaning is this, we should work out our salvation with a holy fear and trembling, a jealous fear, a son-like fear, lest we displease God: why? he gives both the will and the deed; he gives both the will to do good, and when he hath done that, he gives the ability of the deed it self. We cannot do any thing:
Againe,4 a soule that is thus disposed, that is poore in spirit, it is willing to resigne it selfe to Christs governement, with selfe-denyall of any thing, it is able to doe of it selfe: it is ready to say, Lord, I have neither wit of mine owne to governe my selfe, nor any strength and ability of mine own, therefore I put my selfe upon thy government, I desire to follow thy light, and to goe on in thy strength. There is alway a resignation to Christs government, and that in feare and trembling: for whom we resigne our selves unto, surely wee will have a care not to displease them. A dependant