A12190:761
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. 1Amongst those helps formerly named, this is a main one: to represent to the soul, (as the soul is quick and nimble in such apprehensions) the odiousness of sin, that it is a truly hateful thing; and therefore that our affection of hatred cannot be better set nor employed upon any object then that of sin. For let us consider that it is not only ill in it self, defiling the soul, and hindering communion with God, but it is also the cause of all ills, being the ill of ills, as God is the good of goods. For our troubles and terrors of conscience, we may thank sin, and for all that we suffer every day in our conditions of life; what is all but the fruit of our own ways? Wherefore suffereth living man, 2(saith the Prophet,) man suffereth for his sin. Thine own inventions have brought these things upon thee; therefore they are bitter unto ⟨p. 369⟩thee, they shall pierce thy bowels. Shall we not therefore hate that which is the cause of all mischief to us? If we had an enemy, especially if he were a soothing false enemy, that under pretence of love should seek our bane and ruin, and join with our worst enemies, would we not hate such an enemy? Sin is the greatest enemy which we have in the world, and doth us more harm then the Devil himself, for it betrayeth us to the Devil, and under pretence of favouring and pleasing our nature, betrays us. It is a false deceitful enemy, which cometh not in an ugly shape, but closes with the soul in a kind of conjugal love, Delilah like enticing and alluring us, whereby it hath the more advantage and strength, in that it appears in a lovely, pleasing, and not in an imperious commanding manner: therefore it should be the more hateful to us. Shall we not hate such an enemy as always dogs us, and hinders us, hinders us from doing any thing well, and puts us on to all that is ill. It is such an enemy that we cannot go about to pray or do any good thing but it hangs upon us and clogs us in all our performances. If a man knew that such a one as made love to him and all his, were his great grand enemy, aiming at his destruction, would a man ever love such a man? thy ba•e, false, revengeful, covetous, worldly heart, it joins with Satan, without which he could not hurt thee. Shall a man cherish that which betrays him to his worst enemy the Devil?