A12190:490
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 now in the second spring of the Gospel, when Luther began to preach:1 in the period of a few years, how many Countries were converted and turned to the Gospel? England, Scotland, Swethland, Denmark, the Palatinate, a great part of France, Bohemia and of the Netherlands. How many Lilies grew up here on a sudden? Sudden growths are suspected, ⟨p. 222⟩and well they may be, but when God will bless; in a short space a great deal of work shall be done. For God is not tied to length of time. He makes water to be wine every year in tract of time,2 for he turns the water of Heaven into the juice of the grape, so there is water turned into wine, that done in tract of time, which he can do in a shorter time, as he did in the Gospel, John. 2.1, &c. Where is the difference? that he did that miraculously in a short time, which he usually effects in continuance of time. So now many times he doth great matters in a short time, that his power may be known and seen the more: as we see now in these wars of Germany, how quickly God hath turned his hand to help his Church, and hiss for a despised forgotten nation to trample down the insulting, afflicting, menacing power of the proud enemy: and he can do so still if our sins hinder him not. Surely if we stand still and behold the salvation of the Lord, we shall see great matters effected in a little time. They shall grow as the Lillie, the accomplishment of this promise is not wholly yet come, for there be blessed times approaching, wherein when the Jews are converted, They shall grow as the Lillie, in those glorious times there spoken of, at the conversion of the Jews,3 and fullness of the Gentiles coming in: the accomplishment whereof we expect, to the rejoicing of our hearts; that they should at length prove indeed with us the true children ⟨p. 223⟩of Abraham.
And now in the second spring of the Gospell, when Luther began to preach: