A12190:594
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.
They shall revive as the corn, In this first, that as the corn when unsown it lies dead in the granary, fructifieth not, but when it is sown springs up to an hundred fold, as we read of in Isaacks time, who received so much increase.1 So it is with converted Christians before they were under any gracious means, or in a good place, they lay as it were dead and did not spring forth. But afterwards being planted and sown under gracious means, in good company in a good family, then they increase and grow up and multiply: They revive like the Corn.
They shall revive as the corne, In this first, that as the corne when unsowne it lies dead in the granarie, fructifieth not, but when it is sown springs up to an hundred fold, as we reade of in Isaacks time, who received so much increase.1 So it is with converted Christians before they were under any gratious meanes, or in a good place, they lay as it were dead and did not spring forth. But afterwards being planted and sowen under gratious meanes, in good company in a good family, then they increase and grow up and multiplie: They revive like the Corne.
And then again as it is with the Corn, though it seem to die, and doth indeed die in ⟨p. 280⟩some sort, covered with winter storms ere it spring out from the oppressions of frost and snow, and hard weather, as if it were altogether perished: yet notwithstanding it is all the while a preparing for springing up again more gloriously. So it is with the Church, which seems to die often in regard of spiritual mortification by afflictions, whereby it is dead to the world: yet all this while, there is a blessed life in the spirit, preparing the soul under the hard pressures of all weathers, to a glorious springing up again. Therefore the Church hath no hurt by afflictions, no more then the corn hath by the winter, which is as necessary for it, as the spring-time, or summer. For else, how should the earth be ripened and prepared? how should the worms and weeds be killed, if it were not for hard weather? So it is with a Christian, those afflictions that he suffers, and under which he seems to be buried, they are as useful to him as all his comforts. Nay a Christian is more beholding to afflictions for his graces and comforts, then he is to outward blessings. One would think that the goldsmith were a spoiling his plate when he is a burning of it, when all that while the dross is but a consuming out of it; and the vessel so hammered and beaten out, is but a preparing to be a vessel of honour to stand before some great man. So it is with a Christian: an ignorant person looking but one way, thinks God neglects such a one, and that if God cared for