A12190:672
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.
Let us labour to grow in grace more & more, for the more we grow in the love of God and of ⟨p. 325⟩of good things, the more we shall hate sin: for whatsoever may be said for the growth of love & cherishing of it to good things, the same may be said for the hatred of ill in a contrary sense.
The last help shall be, to place and drive our affections a contrary way,1 to translate and place them on a contrary object, when they are stirred up to evil attempts. As when Hatred is stirred up, direct it to its proper object, sin: when Love is irregular; think with our selves, that God hath not planted this affection for this object: but to carry me another way: J must love God above all, and all that he loveth for his sake. Hath God put Love and Hatred into my heart to hate my brother whom I should love, and to love the Devil, and hate God? O no! I should love God above all and my brother as my self; and hate the Devil and all his works, whom J have renounced in my Baptism; therefore in distempers of the affections, make a diversion, and turn them the right way. As Physicians use to do, when the distempered blood runs dangerously one way, If they cannot stop that, they open a vein to drive the course of the blood another way. So it is Christian policy, when the affections run dangerously one way, then to reflect thus upon our selves. I but is this the end why God hath placed this affection in me, Certainly no, he hath planted this affection in me for another purpose. Therefore, I will hate that which I should hate, sin ⟨p. 326⟩in general: and my own sin most of all, which makes me hate my brother. This should be our daily task and study, to take off the affections where they should not be placed, and to fix them where they should be placed: and there to let them go amain, the faster the better; restraining them where they should not run out.
The last helpe shall be, to place and drive our affections a contrary way,