A12190:315
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.
1Now all sins whatsoever are diseases: The first sin of all sins, which we call hereditary Original sin, what is it but an hereditary disease? a leprosy which we drew ⟨p. 133⟩from our first Parents, spread over all the soul, having the seeds and spawn of all sin in it. The Church of Rome makes it less then other sins, as indeed Popery is ignorant both of the height of grace, and of the depth of corruption; for, if they knew the one, they would be more capable of the other. Why do they not conceive aright of grace, and of the height of it? because they know not the depth of Original sin. And indeed the true knowledge of this disease is proper only to the child of God in the true Church: none but he knows what Original sin is, others can dispute and talk of it, but none feels it but the child of God. Now all other particular actual sins,2 be diseases flowing from hence: so that all diseases in this kind, arise either 1. from our selves, as we have a seminary of them in our own hearts: or else, 2. from the infection and contagion of others: or 3. from Satan, who hath society with our spirits (as men have with the outward man) coming in by his suggestions and our entertaining of them: so that in that respect, sin is like unto a wound and a disease, in regard of the cause of them.
1Now all sinnes whatsoever are diseases: The first sinne of all sinnes, which wee call hereditarie Originall sinne, what is it but an hereditarie disease? a leprosie which we drew ⟨p. 133⟩from our first Parents, spread over all the soule, having the seeds and spawne of all sinne in it. The Church of Rome makes it lesse then other sinnes, as indeed Popery is ignorant both of the height of grace, and of the depth of corruption; for, if they knew the one, they would bee more capable of the other. Why doe they not conceive aright of grace, and of the height of it? because they know not the depth of Originall sinne. And indeed the true knowledge of this disease is proper onely to the child of God in the true Church: none but he knowes what Originall sinne is, others can dispute and talke of it, but none feeles it but the child of God. Now all other particular actuall sinnes,