A12186:880
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, that we may come to be poor in spirit, let us consider what we are,2 that we are creatures: the term whence creation begins is just no•hing: it is so in the creatures in the world, God made all of nothing, and is it not so in the new creature much more? Therefore if I will be anything in my self as of my self, surely I must look to be no creature of Gods making: for grace is Gods creature, therefore it must rise of nothing, there must be a sight of our own nothingness.2 Indeed a Christian in himself is nothing now in the state of grace: whatsoever he is for grace or glory, it is out of himself; he hath nothing in himself as of himself, all that he hath, he hath ⟨p. 130⟩from Christ. He is poor in himself, but he hath riches enough in Christ, if he see his own poverty. He is a sinner in himself, but he hath righteousness enough in Christ, if he see his sins. Let us know that this is a qualification to interest us in the good that is in Christ: we renew our right in Christ no otherwise then we renew the sense of our own poverty and want. Would we see all in Christ, that we have riches, and wisdom, and happiness, and favour, and life, and all in him? With the same spiritual eye of the soul, let us see that we have nothing in our selves: for I can no otherwise renew that right and interest I have in Christ, but by renewing this sight; we altogether shine in the beams of our Husband. The consideration of this will be a means to work our care, and endeavour towards it, that we are creatures, new creatures, and therefore we must rise of nothing in our selves, and we must be maintained and supported by the new Adam, the second Adam, and have fresh grace from him continually: we move and live in him, as I said before.
Againe, that we may come to be poore in spirit, let us consider what we are,2 that we are creatu•es: the terme whence creation begins is just no•hing: it is so in the creatures in the world, God made all of nothing, and is it not so in the new creature much more? Therefore if I will be anything in my selfe as of my selfe, surely I must looke to be no creature of Gods making: for grace is Gods creature, therefore it must rise of nothing, there must be a sight of our owne nothingnesse.