A12190:894
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. 2 Again, it is for Instruction unto us, to rest and rely upon this so holy, right, pure, and perfect word. Since it is so sure and firm, we are to rest upon the Promises, and tremble at the threatenings, though we see not present performance of them, because not one of them shall fail.1 For (saith Christ) Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but one jot and title of the Law shall not fail. What maketh so many judgements to overtake men, but their unbelief? what made their carcasses to fall in the wilderness, so as they could not enter into the land of Canaan, but their unbelief? for (saith the text of them) They could not enter because of unbelief. 2Infidelity and not believing God, is the root and cause of all our woe. It began with our first Parents, and it cleaveth too close unto us, even unto this day. This cometh ⟨p. 447⟩from our Atheism and self-love, that if a mortal man promise or swear unto us, we believe him and rest upon his word: but all that the great God can do unto us by Promises, Commandments, Threatenings, Allurements, and gracious Examples, will not make us give credit to his word, but rather believe Satan, and our own false and deceitful hearts. As for instance,3 God hath promised that If our sins were as red as scarlet, yet he will make them whiter then the snow, though they be never so strong for us, yet he hath promised to subdue them. If our wants be never so great, yet if we will trust in God; he hath promised to relieve us, and hath said, that he will not fail us nor forsake us, if we cast our care upon him. So for the Threatenings, we must believe that there is never a one of them, but they shall come to pass, as sure as the promises shall be made good. If these thoughts were firmly settled in us, that the ways of the Lord are right, and therefore must be all accomplished in their time, it would make us restless to fly from sin, and the punishments threatened, which all lye at the door, 4and will quickly be upon us, if they be not avoided by sound and hearty Repentance.