A12190:560
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 as it is true of God, so is it of Gods people, they are delighted with the savour of those things that come from other of Gods people. For they have graces in them, and therewith the Spirit of God which is as fire to set a work all those graces in them. For it is the nature of fire where it encounters with sweet things, to kindle them and make them smell more fragrant and sweet. So a Spirit of love makes all sweet and pleasing whatsoever in the children of God: it puts a gracefulness upon their words; making their reproofs, admonitions, comforts, and whatsoever comes from them to have a delightfulness in them: because all is done in love, and comes from the Spirit of God, which carrieth a sweetness in it, to all those endowed with the same Spirit.
And as it is true of God, so is it of Gods people, they are delighted with the savour of those things that come from other of Gods people. For they have graces in them, and therewith the Spirit of God which is as fire to set a worke all those graces in them. For it is the narure of fire where it incounters with sweet things, to kindle them and make them smell more fragrant and sweet. So a Spirit of love makes all sweet and pleasing whatsoever in the children of God: it puts a gracefullnesse upon their words; making their reproofes, admonitions, comforts, and whatsoever comes from them to have a delightfullnesse in them: because all is done in love, and comes from the Spirit of God, which carrieth a sweetnesse in it, to all those endowed with the same Spirit.
Use. 1 Let this be an encouragement to be in love with the state of Gods children, that so our works and whatsoever comes from us as far as it is spiritual, may be acceptable unto God, and to the Church while we are living, nay when we are dead. The very works of holy men when they are dead, are as a box of ointment, as the ointment of the Apothecary, as the wise-man says of Josiah, whose very name was like the ointment of the Apothecary. So the name of those who have stood out for good, and have been good in their times, it carries a sweetness with it when they are gone. The Church of God riseth out of the ashes of the Martyrs, which hitherto smells sweet and puts life in those who come after: so precious are they both dead and alive.