A12190:739
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.
Labour to grow in the sound knowledge of God and of Christ, and of their all-sufficiency. Mark S. Pauls method, Coloss. 2. and in other places, when he would draw us from all outward things, he speaks gloriously of the fullness of Christ. In him dwelleth all the fullness of the God-head bodily: and, In him you are complete. 1When he would draw them from, touch not, taste not, handle not, worshipping of Angels, and from counterfeit humility, he labours to dispossess them of these Idolatrous conceits, and to possess them of the fullness of Christ. If in him we have fullness, why should we look for any thing out of him? If we be complete in him, If all fullness be in him, why do we ⟨p. 355⟩seek any thing out of that fullness? Thus the holy Apostle shutteth up his first Epistle, Babes keep you from Idols. What is promised there?2 Christ is eternal life, all is in him, whereupon presently comes this; Babes keep you from Idols. If life and happiness and all be in Christ, If we be complete in him, and the fullness of all be in him, why should we go out of him for any thing?3 When God would persuade Abraham to leave all Idolatry, and all things else, to depend wholly upon him, what doth he first possess him with? I am God all sufficient, &c. know God in covenant all sufficient, and Christ in the fullness of his high perfections as mediator, in whom is all fullness and life eternal, in whom we are complete: we shall then be so far from going out of him for any thing, as we shall be of the same mind with Ephraim, what have J now any more to do with other Intercessors and Mediators? what have I to do with will-worship? what need I go to other cursed means, when God is all sufficient? It is the scope of the new covenant of grace that we should glory in God only,4 who hath made Christ unto us, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. And all this, because that whosoever glorieth in him should not go out of him for any thing. The more we know therefore the fullness of Christ, and Gods mercy in him, the more we shall abhor all Idolatry, with the kinds and degrees of it.