A12190:643
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.
Observ. There is excellent use of the affections.
God hath planted the affections in us to be as the wind, to carry the soul too and fro, forward or backward: for affections are planted in the soul answerable to things aimed at by it. For, as in the nature of things, there be good and bad, delightful and hateful, hurting or pleasing: so answerably God hath framed the soul to the nature of things.1 For good things, God hath planted affections in us to join, clasp, embrace them and welcome them, as Love, Joy, Delight, and such like. And for evil things, he hath planted affections to avoid them,2 as indignation, hatred and the like. Indeed Religion is mainly in the affections, ⟨p. 309⟩whereof there is excellent use, take away them, and take away all Religion whatsoever. A man, were it not for his affections, is like Mare mortuum, the dead sea that never stirreth. Therefore it is but a doting idle conceit of these rigid men, that take away affections: much like the folly of them, who because they have been drunk with wine, do therefore cut up all the vines. But the way were to moderate the excess, not to cut up the vines. So for the affections, we must not root them up, or cut them down, but order them aright. For what doth the first Commandment require? [Thou shalt have no other gods but me,] But a right ordering of all the affections of the soul, Joy, delight, trust and fear, and the whole frame of them to be carried to God. For the inward worship of God is nothing else, but the excellent working of these affections suitably to the Law, with the detestation of the contrary. It is not knowledge that makes a man a good man, but the affections? the Devil and wicked spirits know much; but they have no love, joy, or delight in them. Therefore we must value our selves and things, as we are in our will and affections: for so God valueth us, and we should value others thereby. This well done would bring us a wondrous deal of comfort, and stop our too much and rigid judging and censuring of others.