A12190:899
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.
Indeed God suffers sometimes men that will have their own ways, to come quickly to them, as some men hasten to be rich, and God suffers them to be rich hastily: yet they are none of Gods ways which they take, but climb up by fraud and deceit. I but that is only a particular end, which God suffereth them to attain by by ways: but what will be the up-shot? Where will all these ways end at length? surely in Hell. For when a man goes out of the right, and straight, and direct way, to be great in the world, he is like a man who goes out of his way, which is further about, who yet when he is in that way goes on through thick and thin, because he will gain some way. He goes on through thickets and hedges, fair and foul where he gets many scratches, brushes, and knocks. Do any think in the world to attain his particular ends, without the direct ways of God, God may suffer him to attain his particular end, but with many flaws, knocks and brushes upon his conscience, which many times he carrieth with him unto his grave, and finds it a great deal better, both to attain unto his particular ends by Gods ways, and to have no more of any thing in the world then he can have with a good conscience. ⟨p. 450⟩For though they be good men, oft-times God suffers such men to have bruises in their conscience all their days; that they and others may know, that the best way, is the straight and right way, which at last will bring us best to our end.
Indeed God suffers sometimes men that will have their owne wayes, to come quickly to them, as some men hasten to be rich, and God suffers them to bee rich hastily: yet they are none of Gods wayes which they take, but climbe up by fraud and deceit. I but that is only a particular end, which God suffereth them to attaine by bie wayes: but what will be the up-shot? Where will all these wayes end at length? surely in Hell. For when a man goes out of the right, and streight, and direct way, to be great in the world, he is like a man vvho goes out of his way, vvhich is further about, who yet when he is in that vvay goes on through thicke and thinne, because he will gaine some way. He goes on through thickets and hedges, faire and foule where he gets many scratches, brushes, and knocks. Do any thinke in the world to attaine his particular ends, vvithout the direct vvayes of God, God may suffer him to attaine his particular end, but vvith many flawes, knocks and brushes upon his conscience, vvhich many times he carrieth vvith him unto his grave, and findes it a great deale better, both to attaine unto his particular ends by Gods wayes, and to have no more of any thing in the world then he can have vvith a good conscience.