A12191:274
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
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.
3And search our selves, for usually▪ it is for some particular sin, which conscience will tell a man of, and sometimes the kind of the punishment will tell a man, for sins of the body, God punisheth in the body he pays men home, in their own coin, what measure a man measureth to others shall be measured ⟨p. 35⟩to him again. If a man have been cruel to others, God will stir up those that shall be so to him, therefore we should labour to part with our particular transgressions and iniquities. It is a general truth for all ills whatsoever as well as this of sickness.2 Therefore we should first of all go to God by confession of sin. It is a preposterous course that the atheistical careless world takes, where the Physician ends,3 there the divine begins▪ when they know not what to do. If diseases come from sin then make use of the divine first to certify ⟨p. 36⟩the conscience, and to acquaint a man with his own mercy. First to search them, and let them see the guilt of their sins and then to speak comfort to them, and to set accounts strait between God, & them, as in Ps. 32. (an excellent place.4 David roared, his moisture was turned into the drought of summer, what course doth he take? he doth not run to the Physician presently but goes to God. Then said I it was an inward resolution, and speech of the mind, then I concluded with my self, I will confess my sin to God, and thou for gavest my iniquities ⟨p. 37⟩and sin, so body, and soul were healed at once.5 Divinity herein transcends all other Arts, not only corrupt nature, and corrupt courses but all other: For the Physician he looks to the cause of the sickness out of a man or in a man, out of a man and then especially in contagious sickness, he looks to the influence of the heavens, in such a year, such conjunctions, and such eclipses have been, he looks to the infection of the Air to subordinate causes, to contagious company, and to diet, &c. And then in a man to the distemper of