A12190:495
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.
But how shall we come to grow?
But how shall wee come to grow?
Answ. Go to God that we may continually have from him the sanctifying dew of his grace: go first for pardon of sin,1 then for a heart to reform our ways, to enter in a new covenant for the time to come, that we will not trust in Ashur, but will renounce our particular personal sins, after which we shall find sanctifying grace, so as the dew of Gods Spirit will make us grow: therefore, take this order to improve the promises. Go to God for his love in Christ, for the pardoning of sin, and accepting of us in him, that we may find a sense of his love in accepting of our persons, in the pardoning of our sin, which is the ground of love: for then this sense of his love will kindle our love towards him again, feeling that we are in the state of grace. Then go to God for his promise in this order: Lord, thou hast promised that thou wilt be as the dew, and that we shall grow as Lilies: make good thy promise then, that I may find the effectual power of it transforming my soul into the blessed Image of thy dear Sonne.
Answ. Goe to God that we may continually have from him the sanctifying dew of his grace: goe first for pardon of sinne,1 then for a heart to reforme our wayes, to enter in a new covenant for the time to come, that wee will not trust in Ashur, but will renounce our particular personall sinnes, after which we shall find sanctifying grace, so as the dew of Gods Spirit will make us grow: therefore, take this order to improove the promises. Goe to God for his love in Christ, for the pardoning of sinne, and accepting of us in him, that we may find a sence of his love in accepting of our persons, in the pardoning of our sinne, which is the ground of love: for then this sence of his love will kindle our love towards him againe, feeling that we are in the state of grace. Then goe to God for his promise in this order: Lord, thou hast promised that thou wilt be as the dew, and that we shall grow as Lillies: make good thy promise then, that I may finde the effectuall power of it transforming my soule into the blessed Image of thy deare Sonne.