A12190:268
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.
1. The Attribute of God, Mercy. 2. The fit Object thereof, The Fatherless.
1. The Attribute of God, Mercy. 2. The fit Object thereof, The Fatherlesse.
1Mercy is Gods sweetest Attribute, which sweeteneth all his other Attributes; for but for Mercy, whatsoever else is in God, were matter of terror to us. His Justice would affright us: His Holiness likewise (considering our impurity) would drive us from him:2 Depart from me (saith Peter to our Saviour) for I am a sinful man; 3and when the Prophet Isay saw God in his excellency a little: Then he said, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, &c. His Power is terrible, it would confound us, His Majesty astonish us. O, but Mercy mitigates all, he that is great in Majesty is abounding in mercy; he that hath beams of Majesty hath bowels of mercy. O, this draweth, especially miserable persons, In thee the Fatherless findeth mercy. And now, in the Covenant of Grace, this mercy sets all a work. ⟨p. 107⟩For it is the mercy of God by which we triumph now in the Covenant of Grace, in that mercy which stirred up his wisdom to find out a way for mercy by satisfying his Justice: So that the first moving Attribute of God that set him a work about that great work of our salvation, by Jesus Christ, in the Covenant of Grace, was mercy, his tender mercy, his bowels of mercy: Therefore of all others, that Attribute is here named; For in thee the Fatherless findeth mercy.
1Mercy is Gods sweetest Attribute, which sweetneth all his other Attributes; for but for Mercy, whatsoever else is in God, were matter of terror to us. His Justice would affright us: His Holinesse likewise (considering our impurity) would drive us from him: