A12190:311
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.
Now pardoning grace in justification, takes away the anguish and malice of the wound, so that it ceaseth to be so malignant and deadly as to kill, or infect. And then sanctification purgeth and cleanseth the wound, and heals it up. Now God through Christ doth both. The blood of Christ doth heal the guilt of sin, which is the anger and malignity of it. And by the Spirit of Christ he heals the wound it self, and purgeth out the sick and peccant ⟨p. 131⟩humour by little and little through sanctification: God is a perfect healer, I will heal their backsliding. See here the state of the Church and Children of God, they are prone to backsliding and turning away:1 we are naturally prone to decline further and further from God. So the Church of God planted in a family in the beginning of the world, how soon was it prone to backsliding, this is one weakness since the fall, it is incident to our nature to be unsettled and unsteady in our holy resolutions. And whilst we live in the midst of temptations, the world, together with the sicklenesse of our own nature, evil examples, and Satan's perpetual malice against God and the poor Church, are ill Pilots to lead us out of the way. This is spoken to make us careful how to shun Backsliding, for we see how many opinions are foisted in amongst us, and have got some head, that durst not before once be named amongst us. Popery spreads it self amain; even Churches are prone to backsliding. Therefore S. Pauls advice is, Be not high minded, but fear, 2for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed least he also spare not thee. What is become of Rome, so the same will become of us, if we stop not our backslidings.
Now pardoning grace in justification, takes away the anguish and malice of the wound, so that it ceaseth to be so malignant and deadly as to kill, or infect. And then sanctification purgeth and cleanseth the wound, and heales it up. Now God through Christ doth both. The blood of Christ doth heale the guilt of sinne, which is the anger and malignity of it. And by the Spirit of Christ he heales the wound it selfe, and purgeth out the sicke and peccant ⟨p. 131⟩humor by little and little through sanctification: God is a perfect healer, I will heale their backesliding. See here the state of the Church and Children of God, they are prone to backesliding and turning away: