A12190:324
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.
Use. 2 Again, if this be so, that sin is a disease and wound of the soul, let us therefore labour to cure it presently. It is desperate folly in men to neglect their bodies, when they know that they are prone to such and such diseases which are growing upon them every day: how careful are men (perceiving this much) to prevent diseases ⟨p. 139⟩by timely physic? all sins are diseases, and growing like diseases run from ill to worse and worse.1 Wicked men (saith the Apostle) grow worse and worse. Therefore, if sin be a disease, prevent it presently; for as we see, Heretics and others the like are hardly found, but at the first: and then are hardly cured: so, if we neglect the diseases of our souls, they will breed a consumption of grace, or such an ill temper of soul, as that it cannot well desire to repent. Nay when a man lives in wicked rebellious courses long, God will give him up to such terrors of conscience, that it will not be pacified, but upbraid it self, I have been a sinful wretched creature, mercy hath been offered me again and again, but now it is too late, having outstood all the means of grace, and rejected them. When they have considered that their lives have for a long time been a mere rebellion, and that they have put off the checks of conscience, the admonitions of the Word and Spirit, with the motions thereof: it is long in this case before a man can have peace; for answerable to the continuance in sin, is the hardness of the cure, if it be cured at all.
Vse. 2 Againe, if this be so, that sinne is a disease and wound of the soule, let us therefore labour to cure it presently. It is desperate folly in men to neglect their bodies, when they know that they are prone to such and such diseases which are growing upon them every day: how carefull are men (perceiving this much) to prevent diseases ⟨p. 139⟩by timely physick? all sinnes are diseases, and growing like diseases run from ill to worse and worse.1 Wicked men (saith the Apostle) grow worse and worse. Therefore, if sin be a disease, prevent it presently; for as we see, Hereticks and others the like are hardly found, but at the first: and then are hardly cured: so, if we neglect the diseases of our soules, they will breed a consumption of grace, or such an ill temper of soule, as that it cannot well desire to repent. Nay when a man lives in wicked rebellious courses long, God will give him up to such terrors of conscience, that it will not be pacified, but upbraid it selfe, I have beene a sinnefull wretched creature, mercy hath beene offered me againe and againe, but now it is too late, having outstood all the meanes of grace, and rejected them. When they have considered that their lives have for a long time beene a meere rebellion, and that they have put off the checks of conscience, the admonitions of the Word and Spirit, with the motions thereof: it is long in this case before a man can have peace; for answerable to the continuance in sinne, is the hardnesse of the cure, if it be cured at all.