A12190:928
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. A just and righteous man that is made just by them shall walk in them. Hence we may observe. That first men must have spiritual life, and be just, before they can walk. Walking is an action of life, there must be life before there can be walking, a man must first have a spiritual life, whereby he may be just, and then he will walk as a just man. For as we say of a Bowl (it is Austins comparison) it is first made round and then it runs round, so a man is first just and then he doth justly. It is a conceit of the Papists that good works do justify a man: Luther says well, that a good man doth good works. Good works make not the man, fruit makes not the tree, but the tree the fruit. So we are just first; and then we walk as just men. We must labour to be changed and to have a principle of spiritual life, then we shall walk and have new feet, eyes, taste, ears, and senses: all shall then be new.
Observ. A just and righteous man that is made just by them shall walke in them. Hence we may observe. That first men must have spirituall life, and be just, before they can walke. Walking is an action of life, there must be life before there can be walking, a man must first have a spirituall life, whereby he may be just, and then hee will walke as a just man. For as wee say of a Bowle (it is Austins comparison) it is first made round and then it runnes round, so a man is first just and then he doth justly. It is a conceite of the Papists that good works doe justifie a man: Luther sayes well, that a good man doth good works. Good works make not the man, fruit makes not the tree, but the tree the fruit. So we are just first; and then we walke as just men. We must labour to be changed and to have a principle of spirituall life, then we shall walke and have new feete, eyes, taste, eares, and senses: all shall then be new.
Again, in the second place, the necessity of it appears hence that there must be first spiritual life in the inward man, ere a man can walk. Because there will nor else be a harmony and correspondency betwixt a man and his ways. A man will not hold in those ways that he hath an Antipathy too: therefore his nature must be altered by a higher principle, before ⟨p. 462⟩