A12190:536
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.
These excellencies promised to the Church of God, are not all in one tree, but yet they are in some sort in every Christian, what agrees not all to one plant, agrees to the plants of Righteousness; they grow upwards and downwards, spread and are savoury and fruitful: all agrees to a tree of righteousness. We say of man he is a little world, a compendium of this great world, as indeed there is a comprising of all the excellencies of the world in man; for he hath a being with those creatures who have only that, and therewith he hath growing sense and reason, whereby he hath communion with God and those understanding Spirits the Angels: so that he is as it were a sum of all the excellencies of the creatures, a little world indeed. The great world hath nothing, but the little world hath the same in some proportion. So it is in Grace, a Christian hath all excellencies in him that are in the world: there is not an excellency in any thing but it is in an higher kind in a Christian. He hath the beauty of the Lillie, and he grows up in spreading, smell and fruitfulness; his wisdom exceeds that of all the creatures: there is not an excellency in nature, but we have some proportionable excellency in grace which is above it. God useth these outward things to help us, that we should do both body and soul good by the creatures. Whatsoever doth ⟨p. 250⟩our bodies good, either by necessity or delight, they help our souls: as plants and trees, not only refresh the outward man, and the senses, but also they teach our souls, as here the Holy Ghost teacheth them by outward things. First it is said His Branches shall spread.
These excellencies promised to the Church of God, are not all in one tree, but yet they are in some sort in every Christian, what agrees not all to one plant, agrees to the plants of Righteousnesse; they grow upwards and downewards, spread and are savoury and fruitfull: all agrees to a tree of righteousnesse. Wee say of man he is a little world, a compendium of this great world, as indeed there is a comprising of all the excellencies of the world in man; for he hath a being with those creatures who have onely that, and therewith he hath growing sense and reason, whereby he hath communion with God and those understanding Spirits the Angels: so that he is as it were a summe of all the excellencies of the creatures, a little world indeed. The great world hath nothing, but the little world hath the same in some proportion. So it is in Grace, a Christian hath all excellencies in him that are in the world: there is not an excellency in any thing but it is in an higher kinde in a Christian. He hath the beauty of the Lillie, and he growes up in spreading, smell and fruitfulnesse; his wisdome exceeds that of all the creatures: there is not an excellencie in nature, but wee have some proportionable excellencie in grace which is above it. God useth these outward things to helpe us, that we should doe both body and soule good by the creatures. Whatsoever doth