A12190:591
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.
We are all too shallow to conceive either the infinite vastness of Gods justice to impenitent sinners, or his boundless mercy and goodness to his poor Church and children. Therefore God to help our weak conceit in this kind borroweth all the excellencies of nature, and makes use of them in grace. He takes out of the book of nature into his book what may instruct our souls: and therefore sets down the growing estate of a Christian by all excellent comparisons that nature will afford, many whereof we have gone over, the last we spake of was, that mercy which God superabundantly shows unto the friends and servants of the Church, Those that dwell under his shadow shall return. Now those that shall thus return, they revive in returning: for they turn to the fountain of life, to the Sun of Righteousness: ⟨p. 279⟩they come under Gods grace, therefore they must needs return and revive in vigour, as they return to God: which vigour is especially meant here, when he saith, Those that dwell under his shadow shall return.
We are all too shallow to conceive either the infinite vastnesse of Gods justice to impenitent sinners, or his boundlesse mercy and goodnesse to his poore Church and children. Therefore God to helpe our weake conceit in this kinde borroweth all the excellencies of nature, and makes use of them in grace. He takes out of the booke of nature into his booke what may instruct our soules: and therefore sets downe the growing estate of a Christian by all excellent comparisons that nature will afford, many whereof we have gone over, the last we spake of was, that mercy which God superabundantly shewes unto the friends and servants of the Church, Those that dwell under his shadow shall returne. Now those that shall thus returne, they revive in returning: for they turne to the fountaine of life, to the Sonne of Righteousnesse: ⟨p. 279⟩they come under Gods grace, therefore they must needs returne and revive in vigor, as they returne to God: which vigor is especially meant here, when he saith, Those that dwell under his shadow shall returne.