A12190:755
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.
God hath framed the soul that it may enjoy the chief good, and avoid the chief ill especially, for petty goods and petty ills are not so behoovefull: Yet notwithstanding God will have us avoid all ill, and embrace all good, and he hath made the soul into an answerable condition. Therefore hath he planted affections therein tending to good; as Love, and Joy and delight, especially made for the embracing of the main good, thereby to go out of it self, and close with that main chief good, in closing wherewith it may be happy.
God hath framed the soule that it may injoy the cheefe good, and avoid the cheefe ill especially, for pettie goods and pettie ils are not so behoovefull: Yet notwithstanding God will have us avoid all ill, and imbrace all good, and he hath made the soule into an answerable condition. Therefore hath hee planted affections therein tending to good; as Love, and Joy and delight, especially made for the imbracing of the maine good, thereby to goe out of it selfe, and close with that maine cheefe good, in closing wherewith it may be happy.
And then to avoid the chief ill, sin and damnation, he hath planted affections of aversation, abhorring, hatred, grief and the like. Thus hath he framed the soul for these main ends, without which affections, the soul were as Mare mortuum, that dead sea. The ⟨p. 367⟩affections are the wings and the wind of the soul, that carry it unto all which it is carried unto: especially when the wind of Gods Spirit blows upon it, then it is carried out of it self, for of it self it cannot love or hate as it should, but God must raise the affections, and lay them down again. We have not the managing of our own hearts; grace teacheth us to do all.
And then to avoid the cheefe ill, sinne and damnation, hee hath planted affections of aversation, abhorring, hatred, griefe and the like. Thus hath he framed the soule for these maine ends, without which affections, the soule were as Mare mortuum, that dead sea. The