A12190:707
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.
Answ. 5 So likewise, they make their Sacraments to be Idols;1 for they ascribe to the water in Baptism power of conferring grace. Now grace is Gods Creature only, for all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth cannot confer the least dram of grace; it is a thing of Gods ⟨p. 338⟩making. Now to raise an element to confer grace, and then to trust in it ex opere operato, for the conferring of it, is to make an Idol of it.2 And for the Bread; none of all the Heathens ever had such an abominable Idol as the Mass, a breaden God: for they worshipped living creatures, and there is not the worst living creature, but it is better then a piece of bread; and yet they worship that, for (by their own confession) if the intention of the Priest be not to the action, there is nothing but bread. How may the minds then of men be tormented, when they may or shall think, perhaps the Priest hath no such intention? and so are in danger of Idolatry. For saith the Psalmist, Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god, 3&c. So certainly the sorrows, and scruples of those that are Idolaters shall be multiplied, they cannot but be much tormented in soul sometimes. Coster himself a forward Jesuit acknowledgeth, That if (upon the words of Consecration) the Bread be not turned and Transubstantiated into the body of Christ, we are the most abominable Idolaters of the world. 4But we make the Minor and Assumption (long since proved by the late worthies of our Church) but there is no such transubstantiating of the Bread into the Body of Christ: therefore by their own consent they are the most abominable Idolaters of the world, worse then the Heathen.
Answ. 5 So likewise, they make their Sacraments to be Idols;1 for they ascribe to the water in Baptisme power of conferring grace. Now grace is Gods Creature onely, for all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth cannot conferre the least dram of grace; it is a thing of Gods