A12190:330
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.
Reason 2 And in the next place, as he can heal our souls, so he is willing to do it: which his willingness we may know by the medicine he doth it by, his own dear Son; he hath provided a plaster of his Sons blood to heal us. And besides his own inward willingness, ⟨p. 143⟩being now a gracious Father to us in Christ Jesus;1 he sends his Ambassadors to heal and cure us in his Name, to apply his medicines, and to beseech and entreat us to be reconciled, God by them entreats us to entreat him for pardon and mercy, and is so willing to be entreated, that ere we shall sit out; he teacheth us words (as we heard) Take unto you words, &c. as he is an able, so he is a willing Physician. Christ the great Physician together with his Father expects not that we should first come to him, but he comes first, and sends to us.2 The Physician came to the sick, though for the most part the sick (if able) go to the Physician. But here is the contrary, he came from Heaven, took our nature upon him, and therein died, by which his blood-shedding he satisfied the wrath of God, justly offended with us.3 So he heals our souls that way, having undergone the anger and wrath of God, that his blood might quench and appease that anger,4 by a plaster thereof made and applied to our souls.
Reason 2 And in the next place, as hee can heale our soules, so hee is willing to doe it: which his willingnesse we may know by the medicine he doth it by, his owne deare Sonne; hee hath provided a plaister of his Sonnes blood to heale us. And besides his owne inward willingnesse, ⟨p. 143⟩being now a gratious Father to us in Christ Jesus;1 he sends his Ambassadors to heale and cure us in his Name, to apply his medicines, and to beseech and intreate us to be reconciled, God by them intreats us to intreat him for pardon and mercy, and is so willing to be intreated, that ere we shall sit out; hee teacheth us words (as we heard) Take unto you words, &c. as he is an able, so hee is a willing Physitian. Christ the great Physitian together with his Father expects not that we should first come to him, but he comes first, and sends to us.