A12190:514
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.
Therefore a poor Christian is firm and stable even in this life, having union with Christ, though he creep upon the earth and seem a despised person, yet his root is in Heaven, where he hath union with Christ; His life is hid with God in Christ: 1who when he shall appear, he shall appear with him likewise in glory. Therefore, if Christ be firm, the estate of a Christian must needs be firm: For he is a Cedar, another man is as grass or corn upon the house top,2 All flesh is grass, saith the Prophet: Object. I but they have wit and memory, and parts, &c. yet they are but as the flower of the grass, perhaps better then ordinary grass, but the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth: what continueth then? O the word of the Lord, and comfort and grace by that word, endures for ever, ⟨p. 234⟩and makes us endure for ever. This is excellently set down by the Prophet David, 3we see there the righteous man is compared to a tree planted by the water side, his leaf fails not. So a Christian is planted in Christ, he is still on the growing hand, and his leaf shall not wither, Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, 4shall flourish in the Courts of our God, They shall still bring fruit in their old age, they shall be fat and flourishing, they shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon.
Therefore a poore Christian is firme and stable even in this life, having union with Christ, though he creepe upon the earth and seeme a despised person, yet his roote is in Heaven, where he hath union with Christ; His life is hid with God in Christ: 1who when hee shall appeare, he shall appeare with him likewise in glory. Therefore, if Christ be firme, the estate of a Christian must needs be firme: For he is a Cedar, another man is as grasse or corne upon the house top,2