A12190:947
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.
Again, if we would walk aright in the ways of God, let us have our end in our eye, like unto the traveller: look on Heaven, the day of judgement, those times either of eternal happiness or misery which we must all come too. The having of these in our eye will stern ⟨p. 469⟩the whole course of our life, for the end infuseth vigour in our carriages, and puts a great deal of life in the use of the means breeding a love of them, though they be harsh. Therefore we must pray and labour for Patience to conflict with our own corruptions and those of the times we live in. This is unpleasant to do, but when a man hath his aim and end in his eye this inspires such vigour and strength in a man that it makes him use means and courses contrary to his own natural disposition, offering a holy violence unto himself: as thus it is not absolutely necessary, that I should have this or that, or have them all, or in such and such a measure, but it is absolutely necessary, that I should be saved and not damned: therefore this course I will take, in these ways I will and must walk, which lead to Salvation. Let us therefore with Moses have in our eye,1 the Recompense of the reward, and with our blessed Saviour the head of the faithful, have before our eyes the joy that was set before him, which will make us pass by all those heavy things that he passed through. Let us with the holy men of a••ient time have the price of that high calling in our eye, to make us notwithstanding all opposition press forwards towards the mark.
Againe, if we would walke aright in the wayes of God, let us have our end in our eye, like unto the traveller: looke on Heaven, the day of judgement, those times either of eternall happinesse or misery which vve must all come too. The having of these in our eye will sterne ⟨p. 469⟩the whole course of our life, for the end infuseth vigor in our carriages, and puts a great deale of life in the use of the meanes breeding a love of them, though they be harsh. Therefore we must pray and labour for Patience to conflict with our owne corrruptions and those of the times we live in. This is unpleasant to doe, but when a man hath his aime and end in his eye this inspires such vigor and strength in a man that it makes him use meanes and courses contrary to his owne naturall disposition, offering a holy violence unto himselfe: as thus it is not absolutely necessary, that I should have this or that, or have them all, or in such and such a measure, but it is absolutely necessary, that I should be saved and not damned: therefore this course I will take, in these wayes I will and must walke, which leade to Salvation. Let us therefore with Moses have in our eye,