A12190:363
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.
1And then again, though forgiveness of sins be free, yet notwithstanding there is a way whereby we come to forgiveness of sins, that costs us somewhat; God humbles the soul first, brings a man to himself, to think of his course, to lay open his sins and spread them before God in confession, and working upon the soul hearty Repentance: so to come to God, and wait for forgiveness of sins, perhaps a good while before there be a report of it. There are none who have sins forgiven, but they know how they come by it: for there is a predisposition wrought in a mans soul by the Spirit which teacheth him, what estate he is in, and what his danger is, whereupon follows confession, and upon that peace. God keeps his children many times a long while upon the rack before he speaks peace unto them in the forgiveness of sins, because he would not have them think slightly of the riches of his mercy. It is no easy matter to attain unto the sense of the ⟨p. 165⟩forgiveness of sins, though indeed we should strive to attain it, that so we may walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. The difficulty of obtaining or recovering the sense of forgiveness, may be seen in David; after his fall did he easily obtain sense of pardon? O no, God held him on the rack a long time, He roared all the day long, 2his moisture was turned into the drought of Summer. But when he had resolved a through and no sleight confession; when he had resolved to shame himself, and glorify God; then saith he; And thou forgavest my sin, but till he dealt throughly with his soul without all guile, he felt no comfort. So it is with the children of God, when in the state of grace they fall into sin; it is no sleight, Lord have mercy upon me, that will serve the turn; but a through shaming of themselves before God, and a through confession, resolving and determining to be under another government; to have Christ to govern them,3 as well as to pardon them: God will no otherwise do it. Because he would glorify his rich mercy herein: for who would give mercy its due glory, if forgiveness were easily attained without shaming of our selves?