A12190:726
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.
Again there is another thing which is a common abuse among Christians,1 wherein they come near to Idolatry, when they transform God to be like themselves in their affections, as it is the property of all unregenerate men to do so. Idolatry is so natural it cannot but transform God to be like it self, as for instance. A man that is not a gracious man, in the pride of his sinful course, thinks that God is like unto him:2 Thou thoughtest that I was like unto thy self: therefore I will come against ⟨p. 346⟩thee, &c. As oppressors and such who grow great by ill courses, they justify this much: would God let me alone if he did not approve of my courses? so they make God like themselves. And so the good-fellows of the world, they make God to allow all their dissoluteness, because he lets them alone. So those that are fierce and cruel by nature, who delight in cruelty, vexation and blood, they transform God as though he delighted in such things, and make him a God of blood. So others transform God to be all mercy: this is to make God an Idol, and as ill as if they transformed him into this and that creature, worse then the Heathens, in regard of their light under the Gospel, yet this is the disposition of many Christians now a days.
Againe there is another thing which is a common abuse among Christians,1 wherein they come neere to Idolatry, when they transforme God to be like themselves in their affections, as it is the property of all unregenerate men to doe so. Idolatry is so naturall it cannot but transforme God to be like it selfe, as for instance. A man that is not a gratious man, in the pride of his sinnefull course, thinks that God is like unto him:2 Thou thoughtest that I was like unto thy selfe: therefore I will come against ⟨p. 346⟩thee, &c. As oppressors and such who grow great by ill courses, they justifie this much: would God let me alone if he did not approove of my courses? so they make God like themselves. And so the good-fellowes of the world, they make God to allow all their dissolutenesse, because he lets them alone. So those that are fierce and cruell by nature, who delight in cruelty, vexation and blood, they transforme God as though he delighted in such things, and make him a God of blood. So others transforme God to be all mercy: this is to make God an Idoll, and as ill as if they transformed him into this and that creature, worse then the Heathens, in regard of their light under the Gospell, yet this is the disposition of many Christians now a dayes.