A12190:412
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.
Quest. Judgements then are called Gods Anger.
Answ. 1Because they issue from his Anger and displeasure: for it is not the judgements, but the Anger in them, which lies heavy upon the soul; when they come from Gods Anger, they are intolerable to the conscience, else when we suffer ill, knowing that it is not from Gods Anger, but for trial of our graces, or for exercise we bear it patiently. Therefore God saith, mine Anger is turned away from him, for this unremoved embittereth every cross though it be never so small. Let Gods Anger be upon a man, and he will make a conceit, a very light thing, to be as a heavy cross unto him, and vex him both in body and state, more then mightier crosses at some other time shall. Will you see this in one instance, where God threateneth his own dear people thus: And the Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, 2and with the Emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch whereof thou canst not be healed. What is a scab, and an itch and the like such a terrible judgement, which in these days is set so light by? O yes, when it comes with Gods displeasure, when the least scratch is set on fire by Gods anger it shall consume us, it proves incurable, as there it is threatened: whereof thou canst not be healed. When the vermin came in Gods Anger upon that hard hearted King; all Pharaohs skill, and his Magicians skill, could not beat them out,3 because (as they confessed) this was the finger of God. Let any thing come as a messenger ⟨p. 187⟩of Gods Anger, it comes with vengeance and sticks to the soul, like a fretting leprosy, 4which when it entered into a house, many times could not be gotten out again with pulling out stones, or scraping them, till the house were demolished. So when Gods Anger is raised and kindled against a person, you may remove this and that, change place and company, and use of helps, yet it will never leave fretting till it have consumed him, unless it be removed by Repentance, if it be never so small a scratch or itch, all the Physic in the world shall not cure it. For as the Love of God makes all other things in God comfortable unto us, so it is his Anger which makes all his Attributes terrible: as for his Power, the more he loves me, the more he is able to do me good. But otherwise, the more he is Angry and displeased, the more his other Attributes are terrible. If he be Wise, the more he will find out my sins;