A12190:733
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 you have some who are none of the worst,1 who commit this great sin of Idolatry by trusting to the outward performances and tasks of Religion, thinking that God must needs be bound unto them when they have done so many tasks, read and prayed, or heard so many sermons, or done a good deed. But here lieth the spiritual subtlety, in that they set up these things too high, when if they find not that success they look for, then they inwardly murmur against God: when rather all these things should be done with a spirit of Humility and subjection, using them only as means whereupon we expect Gods blessing, craving his assistance and strength to do them in a holy and a self-denying manner: when we do otherwise, and trust to the outward tasks and performances we do, we make them Idols. And you have many that go along with outward performances, who never come to a dram of grace, because they trust to the outward performances, and look not to the life and soul of them, which is the Spirit of God assisting, quickening, strengthening blessing them. The life of a Christian is a perpetual dependence upon God in the use of means; and not an Idolizing of them, to be ⟨p. 352⟩careless when he hath done his task.
Againe you have some who are none of the worst,1 who commit this great sinne of Idolatry by trusting to the outward performances and taskes of Religion, thinking that God must needs be bound unto them when they have done so many taskes, read and prayd, or heard so many sermons, or done a good deed. But heere lyeth the spirituall subtilty, in that they set up these things too high, when if they finde not that successe they looke for, then they inwardly murmur against God: when rather all these things should be done with a spirit of Humility and subjection, using them onely as meanes whereupon we expect Gods blessing, craving his assistance and strength to doe them in a holy and a selfe-denying manner: when we doe otherwise, and trust to the outward taskes and performances we doe, wee make them Idols. And you have many that goe along with outward performances, who never come to a dram of grace, because they trust to the outward performances, and looke not to the life and soule of them, which is the Spirit of God assisting, quickning, strengthning blessing them. The life of a Christian is a perpetuall dependance upon God in the use of meanes; and not an Idolizing of them, to bee