A12190:499
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.
He shall cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
Hee shall cast forth his rootes as Lebanon.
That is, He shall cast and spread, and so put forth his roots as Lebanon: he shall grow upward and downward; in regard of firmness he shall be more rooted. In what proportion Trees grow upwards, in that proportion they take root downwards: because otherwise, they may be top heavy and overturn, a blast of wind taking advantage of their tallness and weakness to root them out the sooner: therefore proportionable to their spreading above, there must be a rooting in the ground. As the prophet speaks to Hezekiah of Gods people,1 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah, shall yet again take root downward and bear fruit upward. There must be firmness in the root, as well as growth in the branches, for which cause, God here promiseth to the Church and every Christian stability and fixedness, that as he groweth upward like the Lillie, so he should grow downward, firm and strong.
That is, He shall cast and spread, and so put forth his rootes as Lebanon: he shall grow upward and downeward; in regard of firmenesse he shall be more rooted. Jn what proportion Trees grow upwards, in that proportion they take roote downewards: because otherwise, they may be top heavy and overturne, a blast of winde taking advantage of their talnesse and weakenesse to roote them out the sooner: therefore proportionable to their spreading above, there must be a rooting in the ground. As the prophet speakes to Hezekiah of Gods people,1 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Iudah, shall yet againe take roote downeward and beare fruit upward. There must be firmenesse in the roote, as well as growth in the branches, for which cause, God here promiseth to the Church and every Christian stability and fixednesse, that as he groweth upward like the Lillie, so he should grow downward, firme and strong.