A12190:386
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.
I will love them freely.
In the next place, from hence we observe another point which necessarily followeth upon the former: Observ. That God did not then begin to love them, when he said I will love them freely: but to discover that love unto them, which he carried unto them from all eternity. For instance hereof Saint Paul was beloved of God, ere God manifested his love unto him: as he testifieth of himself, that the discovery of this free love was,1 when it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb, and called me by his Grace, to reveal his Son in me, &c. So Ephes. 1.3, 4. The Apostle blesseth God in his salutation unto them, who had blessed them with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. But whence fetcheth he the ground hereof? According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unblameable before him, in love. 2We need not multiply places more to prove it, our adversaries would fain seem to clear God only in all, and so shroud their arguments under such needless pretences, shift of all places, name we never so many with their strong heads, distinctions, and sophisms. But God will one day give them no thanks for their labour: the will of God (how unequal soever in our eyes, who cannot with our shallow conceits sound the depth of such mysteries) being ground ⟨p. 178⟩enough to justify all his actions whatsoever. We will therefore come to some Reasons of the point.
In the next place, from hence we observe another point which necessarily followeth upon the former: Observ. That God did not then begin to love them, when he said I will love them freely: but to discover that love unto them, which hee carried unto them from all eternity. For instance hereof Saint Paul was beloved of God, ere God manifested his love unto him: as hee testifieth of himselfe, that the discoverie of this free love was,