A12190:866
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.
Observ. Now the next thing to be observed hence is this, That the wise and prudent only know these things. There must be Wisdom and Prudence before we can know divine Truths and make use of them: Observ. and then observe further, That true Wisdom and Prudence carries men to Gods Word. Who is wise to understand these things? by divine Truth we grow wise and prudent, the Spirit joining with the same, and then we come to make a right use of them. There must be first a spiritual Wisdom and Prudence enlightened by the Spirit, ere we can make use of the word aright to taste and relish it. Because though the word be light, yet light alone is not sufficient to cause sight, but there must concur unto the outward light an inward sight: grace must illuminate the understanding and put a heavenly light into the soul. As by the light within meeting with the light without, the eye being the instrument of sight, applying it self to the thing, thence comes sight. So there be divine Truths out of us, wherewith when the Holy ⟨p. 435⟩Ghost puts an inward light into the soul, sanctified Wisdom and Prudence, then the inward light meeting with the light without, we see and apprehend. The Spirit therefore must join to work Wisdom and Prudence. Naturally we are all dead and have lost our spiritual senses, therefore the Spirit of God must work in us spiritual senses, sight and taste, that we may see, discern, and relish heavenly things; which ere we can do, there must be a harmony betwixt the soul and the things, that is the soul must be made spiritual answerable to the heavenly things pitched upon, or else if the soul be not set in a suitable frame, it can never make a right use of them.
Observ. Now the next thing to be observed hence is this, That the wise and prudent onely know these things. There must be Wisdome and Prudence before we can know divine Truthes and make use of them: Observ. and then observe further, That true Wisdome and Prudence carries men to Gods Word. Who is wise to understand these things? by divine Truth we grow wise and prudent, the Spirit ioyning with the same, and then we come to make a right use of them. There must bee first a spirituall Wisdome and Prudence inlightned by the Spirit, ere we can make use of the word aright to taste and relish it. Because though the word be light, yet light alone is not sufficicient to cause sight, but there must concurre unto the outward light an inward sight: grace must illuminate the understanding and put a heavenly light into the soule. As by the light within meeting with the light without, the eye being the instrument of sight, applying it selfe to the thing, thence comes sight. So there be divine Truthes out of us, wherewith when the Holy