A12190:826
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.
Use. 4 Again this enforceth another part of Gods spiritual and heavenly worship, cleaving to God in our affections, especially these two, in our Faith and Love, that as all comes from and by Christ Jesus, so thereby we may draw from him the fruit of grace and comfort. So that this spiritual cleaving and uniting of our souls to Christ, it comes from this that I have all from him, therefore I must cleave to him, seeing whatsoever is spiritual, holy, and comfortable I must have from him. Therefore if we would worship God in Spirit and Truth, as we should do, and set him up in his due place in the soul, let us labour to have our judgements sanctified in this, that all comes from God. If we were surely grounded in the Goodness, Mercy, and Riches of Gods grace, and knew that all our fruit comes and is from him, this would make us to conclude, that therefore it is reason that we should worship him and depend upon him strictly. As the Prophet speaks of Idols,1 that they can neither do us good nor harm, enforcing that they should not fear them, so we may say of all other things distinct from God, they can neither do good nor harm, except God enable them. Will you be slaves to men, they cannot do good nor harm, but as God ⟨p. 412⟩uses them whose creatures they are. Therefore the worship of God is also founded hence; that God does all good or harm; if men do it, they do it from him, he gives them leave, as it is said of Shimei, 2God bid him rail on David. If they do us good, they are his conduits, whereby he deriveth good to us: therefore all is from him? we see then how all the true and hearty worship of God comes from this; From me is thy fruit found.
Vse. 4 Againe this inforceth another part of Gods spirituall and heavenly worship, cleaving to God in our affections, especially these two, in our Faith and Love, that as all comes from and by Christ Jesus, so thereby we may draw from him the fruit of grace and comfort. So that this spiritual cleaving and uniting of our soules to Christ, it comes from this that I have all from him, therefore I must cleave to him, seeing whatsoever is spirituall, holy, and comfortable I must have from him. Therefore if we would worship God in Spirit and Truth, as we should doe, and set him up in his due place in the soule, let us labour to have our judgements sanctified in this, that all comes from God. If we were surely grounded in the Goodnesse, Mercy, and Riches of Gods grace, and knew that all our fruit comes and is from him, this would make us to conclude, that therefore it is reason that we should worship him and depend upon him strictly. As the Prophet speakes of Idols,