A12190:474
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.
And the soul is not only cooled and refreshed, but,1 It is also sweetened and made fruitful with comfort to the soul. If we were to see a man in the pangs of conscience, stung with fiery temptations, as with so many fiery serpents and poisoned darts, which drink up the spirits, and presents God a consuming fire, and Hell beneath full of insupportable torments set on by the insupportable wrath of God: then we should know what it were to have grace in this efficacious manner, cooling and refreshing the soul that hath these fiery darts stuck into it of violent strong temptations, which to the present sense, are the flashes and beginnings of Hell. O! It is an excellent thing to have the Grace of God in such a case to assuage and cool the maladies of a distressed soul, which for the present seems to burn in a flame of wrath. As it cools, so also it makes the heart fruitful, our hearts of themselves ⟨p. 212⟩being as the barren wilderness and wild desert.2 Now God by his grace turns the wilderness into water springs, as it appeareth in many places of the Prophets Saith God: For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground, 3I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, &c. So Grace it turns the barren wilderness, the heart dry of it self, and makes it fruitful. We know what Paul said of Onesimus, a fruitless servant,4 nay a fugitive thief; he is unfruitful no longer (saith he) now that he is become a convert, another, a new man, now he will do good service. A man is no sooner altered by the dew of grace, but howsoever formerly he were a naughty hurtful person, of whom every man was afraid, because of his wickedness, yet now he is a fruitful person, and strives to bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life.5
And the soule is not onely cooled and refreshed, but,1