A12190:199
The returning backslider, or, A commentary upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy…The returning backslider, or, A commentarie upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy…
The returning backslider, or, A commentary upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy of the prophet Hosea Wherein is showed the large extent of Gods free mercy, even unto the most miserable forlorn and wretched sinners that may be, upon their humiliation and repentance. Preached by that learned and judicious divine, Dr. Sibbs, late preacher to the honourable society of Gray's Inn, and master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge. Published by his own permission before his death.The returning backslider, or, A commentarie upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy of the prophet Hosea Wherein is shewed the large extent of Gods free mercy, even unto the most miserable forlorne and wretched sinners that may be, upon their humiliation and repentance. Preached by that learned and judicious divine, Dr. Sibbs, late preacher to the honourable society of Grayes Inne, and master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge. Published by his owne permission before his death.
London: printed by George for George Edwards, 1639
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.
This came to our nature from the first fall; what was our fall at first? A turning from the All-sufficient unchangeable God to the creature. If I should describe sin, it is nothing but a turning from God to one creature or other, when we find not contentment and sufficiency in one creature, we run to another, as the bird flies from one tree and bough to another, so we seek variety of contentments from one thing to another, such is the pravity of our nature since the fall. This is a fundamental conclusion; ⟨p. 70⟩man naturally will, and must have somewhat to rely on. The soul must have have a bottom, a foundation to rest on, either such as the world affords, or a better. Weak things must have their supports: as we see, the Vine being a weak thing, is commonly supported by the Elm or the like supply. So it is with the soul since the fall: because it is weak, and cannot uphold nor satisfy it self with it self, therefore it looks out of it self. Look to God it cannot till it be in the state of grace, for being his enemy, it loves not to look to him or his ways, or have dealing with him; therefore it looks unto the creature, that next hand unto it self. This being natural since the fall, that what we had in God before when we stood, we now labour to have in the creature.
This came to our nature from the first fall; what was our fall at first? A turning from the All-sufficient unchangeable God to the creature. If I should describe sinne, it is nothing but a turning from God to one creature or other, when we find not contentment and sufficiencie in one creature, we run to another, as the bird flies from one tree and bough to another, so we seeke varietie of contentments from one thing to another, such is the pravitie of our nature since the fall. This is a fundamentall conclusion; ⟨p. 70⟩man naturally will, and must have somewhat to relie on. The soule must have have a bottome, a foundation to rest on, either such as the world affoords, or a better. Weake things must have their supports: as wee see, the Vine being a weake thing, is commonly supported by the Elme or the like supplie. So it is with the soule since the fall: because it is weake, and cannot uphold nor satisfie it selfe with it selfe, therefore it lookes out of it selfe. Looke to God it cannot till it be in the state of grace, for being his enemie, it loves not to look to him or his waies, or have dealing with him; therefore it lookes unto the creature, that next hand unto it selfe. This being naturall since the fall, that what we had in God before when we stood, we now labour to have in the creature.