A12190:596
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.
Thirdly, They shall revive as the corn in regard of fructification; It is true both of the Church and of particular graces. We see one grain of corn when it is almost perished and turned to froth, nothing in a manner, presently out of it springs a stalk, and thence an ear and in that many ears, God giving it a body, sixty or a hundred fold as he pleaseth. So it is with a Christian, when he is planted he will leaven others, and those others and others. A few Apostles leavened the whole world, scattering the Gospel like lightning all over the same. So it is true of grace in Gods Children, it is like a grain of mustard-seed at the first, yet it grows up and fructifies,1 from knowledge to knowledge, faith to faith, and grace to grace, from virtue to virtue, from strength to strength, from one degree to another: nothing less at first, and nothing more great or glorious in this world in progress of time, nothing so admired of God, and pleasing unto ⟨p. 282⟩man: as this which makes one all glorious and without spot.
Thirdly, They shall revive as the corne in regard of fructification; It is true both of the Church and of particular graces. We see one graine of corne when it is almost perished and turn'd to froth, nothing in a manner, presently out of it springs a stalke, and thence an eare and in that many eares, God giving it a body, sixtie or a hundred fold as he pleaseth. So it is with a Christian, when he is planted he will leaven others, and those others and others. A few Apostles leavened the whole world, scattering the Gospell like lightning all over the same. So it is true of grace in Gods Children, it is like a graine of mustard-seed at the first, yet it growes up and fructifies,1 from knowledge to knowledge, faith to faith, and grace to grace, from vertue to vertue, from strength to strength, from one degree to another: nothing lesse at first, and nothing more great or glorious in this world in progresse of time, nothing so admired of God, and pleasing unto ⟨p. 282⟩man: as this which makes one all glorious and without spot.