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The riches of mercy In two treatisesThe riches of mercie In two treatises
The riches of mercy In two treatises: 1 Lydia's conversion. 2. A rescue from death. By the late learned, and reverend divine, Richard Sibbs, Doctor in Divinity. Published by the authors own appointment, and subscribed with his own hand to prevent imperfect copies.The riches of mercie In two treatises: 1 Lydia's conversion. 2. A rescue from death. By the late learned, and reverend divine, Richard Sibbs, Doctor in Divinitie. Published by the authors own appointment, and subscribed with his owne hand to prevent imperfect copies.
London: printed by John for Francis Eglesfeild, 1638London: printed by Iohn for Francis Eglesfeild, 1638
LYDIAS Conversion. › A certain woman named Lydia.LYDIAS Conversion. › A certaine woman named Lydia.
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.
1And thirdly, especially Child bearing-women, bring others into this life with danger of their own, therefore they are forced to a nearer communion with God, because so many children as they bring forth, they are in peril of their lives. Therefore the Apostle here mentions ⟨p. 11⟩a company of women that were gathered together, and among the rest, a Certain woman named Lydia.
1And thirdly, especially Child bearing-women, bring others into this life with danger of their own, therefore they are forced to a nearer communion with God, because so many children as they bring forth, they are in perill of their liues. Therefore the Apostle here mentions ⟨p. 11⟩a company of women that were gathered together, and among the rest, a Certaine woman named Lydia.
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What! a woman to be the foundation of the Church of Macedonia, 1a poor woman, and then a Gaoler afterward, a rugged rough Gaoler: for these to be the foundation of so famous a Church as Philippi and other Churches in Macedonia! Oh! yes; the Kingdom of heaven is as a grain of mustard seed small in the beginning. It is so in regard of the Church it self; and in regard of the grace, that every particular ⟨p. 12⟩member hath, it is little and weak beginnings Christians are not as the Angels were, perfect at the first: The Church grows by little, and little. Therefore we should not be discouraged when the plantation of the Gospel hath poor success at the beginning: We see in the Church of Macedonia, there was little success at the first: A woman and a rough Gaoler, a Gaoler that both by calling, and disposition, and custom was a man, hard and hardened too: yet these two were the foundation of a great Church.