A12190:278
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.
Observ. That God is very gracious and merciful to fatherless and distressed persons.
Observ. That God is very gratious and mercifull to fatherlesse and distressed persons.
As we have it, Psal. 10.18. That God will ⟨p. 110⟩judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. So Psal. 146.9. It is said, The Lord preserveth the strangers, he relieveth the fatherless and widow, &c. And for the general we have it,1 The Lord relieveth all that fall, and raiseth up all that be bowed down. God he opens his ear to hear their cry, to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, the like we have in Exodus. 2Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger, for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt, and Exod. 22.23. saith he, Thou shalt not afflict any widow or fatherless child; if thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry. These among many, are direct places to show the truth of this, that God is merciful, not only in general, but to those persons set down by a Synecdoche; a figure where one is set down for all of the same kind. God is merciful to all persons, in any kind of misery or distress whatsoever,3 as the Apostle speaks, God is he who comforted the abject person: the forlorn, the castaway persons of the world, and he is a very present help in trouble. So as when there are none to help, then he awaketh and rouseth up himself to lay hold for us, His own arm brings salvation for his own sake. So when there is misery and none to help, God will find cause and ground from his own bowels to show mercy, to take pity and compassion upon his poor Church and Children, which should teach us.