Filter authors and titles

A12191:373

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.

:370p. 120

But especially in matters of grace, if God had not sent Christ to redeem the world, what a cursed condition had we lien in? next to Devils.

But especially in matters of grace, if God had not sent Christ to redeeme the world, what a cursed condition had we lyen in? next to Divels.

:371p. 120–122

Again if we would praise God, ⁴let us every day keep a Diary of his favours, and blessings; what good he doth us privately, ⟨p. 121⟩what positive blessings he bestows upon us, and what dangers he frees us from, and continues, and renews his mercies every day, and publicly what benefit we have by the state we live in, Oh what a happy state is it that we live in peace, that we enjoy such laws, that every man may fit under his own vine, and under his own figtree and enjoy the comforts of this life, when all the world about us are, and have been in combustion! We should keep a Register of Gods blessings, Oh, that we could learn to have such exact lives! it would breed ⟨p. 122⟩a world of comfort, and we should have a less account to make, when we die.

Againe if wee would praise God, ⁴let us every day keepe a Diary of his favours, and blessings; what good hee doth us privately, ⟨p. 121⟩what positive blessings he bestowes upon vs, and what dangers hee frees us from, and continues, and renewes his mercies every day, and publikly what benefit wee have by the state we live in, Oh what a happie state is it that we live in peace, that wee enjoy such lawes, that every man may fit under his owne vine, and under his owne figtree and enjoy the comforts of this life, when all the world about us are, and have beene in combustion! We should keepe a Register of Gods blessings, Oh, that wee could learne to have such exact lives! it would breed ⟨p. 122⟩a world of comfort, and wee should have a lesse account to make, when wee die.

4Daily register Gods favours.Dayly register Gods favours.

:372p. 122

Every day labour to be humbled for our sins specially such as break the peace of our consciences, and never give our bodies rest till our hearts have rest in the favour of God, and together with matter of humiliation daily observe how God bestows new favours, or else continues the old, that notwith withstanding our provocation, and forgetfulness of him, he strives with us by his goodness, this is a blessed duty that we should labour to perform.

Every day labour to be humbled for our sinnes specially such as break the peace of our consciences, and never give our bodies rest till our hearts have rest in the favour of God, and together with matter of humiliation dayly observe how God bestowes new favours, or else continues the old, that notwith withstanding our provocation, and forgetfulnesse of him, hee strives with us by his goodnesse, this is a blessed duty that we should labour to performe.

:373p. 123–124

And then when we have done this let us rouse up all that we are, ¹and all that we have within us to praise God, Psalm 103. My soul praise the Lord, ²and all that is within me praise his holy Name. What have we within us to praise God? Let us praise God with our understanding, ³to conceive, and have a right judgement of Gods favours, of the worthiness of them, and our own unworthiness, and then a sanctified Memory, ⁴forget not all his benefits; forgetfulness is the grave of Gods blessings it buries all. And then there is in us the affection ⟨p. 124⟩of joy, ⁵and love to God to taste him largely, and then all within us will be large in the praising of God. And our tongue likewise though that be not within us, ⁶it is called our glory; let us make it our glory in this, to Trumpet our Gods praise upon all occasions, all that is within us, and all that we are, or have, or can do, let it be all to the glory, and praise of God.

And then when we have done this let us rouse up all that wee are, ¹and all that wee have within us to praise God, Psalme 103. My soule praise the Lord,

:374p. 124

To draw to a conclusion with some general application, of all that hath been spoken, and then in particular to the present occasion.

To draw to a conclusion with some generall application, of all that hath beene spoken, and then in particular to the present occasion.

:375p. 124–126

You know how God hath dealt of late with ⟨p. 125⟩this City, ¹and with our selves indeed, for we are all of one body politic, and however God visited them, yet it was our sins also that provoked him, we brought sticks to the common fire. ²A Physician lets the arm blood, but the whole body is distempered, God let the City blood, but the whole kingdom was in a distemper, so that it was for our sins as well as theirs we, all brought (I say) some thing to the common flame, and God afflicted us, even in them: God hath now staid the sickness almost as Miraculously as he sent it: It was a ⟨p. 126⟩wonder that so many should be swept away in so short a time, it is almost as great a wonder that God should stay it so soon. And what may we impute it unto? Surely as it is in the text. They cried unto the Lord, God put it into the hearts of the Governors of the state to appoint humiliation and crying to God, and therefore since God hath been so merciful upon our humiliation it is religiously, and worthily done of the state that there should be a time to bless God

You know how God hath dealt of late with ⟨p. 125⟩this Citie, ¹and with our selves indeed, for we are all of one body politike, and however God visited them, yet it was our sinnes also that provoked him, we brought stickes to the common fire. ²A Physitian lets the arme blood, but the whole body is distempered, God let the Citie blood, but the whole kingdome was in a distemper, so that it was for our sins as well as theirs wee, all brought (I say) some thing to the common flame, and God afflicted us, even in them: God hath now stayd the sicknesse almost as Miraculously as hee sent it: It was a ⟨p. 126⟩

:376p. 126–127

Again, God did it with a word, with a command, ⟨p. 127⟩it was both in the inflicting and delivery (as it were) without means: for what could the Physicians do in staying the Plague? Alas all the skill in the world is at a loss in these kinds of sicknesses! it comes with Gods command, it is Gods arrow more especially then other sicknesses, God sent it by his Command, first to humble us for our sin, and now he hath staid it with a word of command that from above 5000. a week, it is come to three persons, God hath sent his word and healed us.

Againe, God did it with a word, with a command, ⟨p. 127⟩it was both in the inflicting and delivery (as it were) without meanes: for what could the Physitians doe in staying the Plague? Alas all the skill in the world is at a losse in these kinds of sicknesses! it comes with Gods command, it is Gods arrow more especially then other sicknesses, God sent it by his Command, first to humble us for our sin, and now hee hath stayd it with a word of command that from above 5000. a weeke, it is come to three persons, God hath sent his word and healed us.

:377p. 127–130

It was a pitiful state we were in before: for ⟨p. 128⟩indeed it was not only a sickness upon the City but a civill sickness: the whole state w•s distempered: for as there is sickness in the body when there is obstruction, when there is not a passage for the spirits and the blood from the liver, & from the heart, and from the head these obstructions cause weakness, and faintings, and consumption, So was there not an obstruction in the state of late? were not the veins of the kingdom stopped? Was not civill commerce stayed? the affliction of this great City, it was as the affliction of the head ⟨p. 129⟩or of the heart or of the liver; if the main vital part be sick, the whole is sick, so the whole kingdom not only by way of sympathy, but it was civilly sick in regard that all trading, and intercourse was stopped, it was a heavy visitation. And we have much cause to bless God that now the ways of this Zion of ours mourn not, that-there is free commerce, and intercourse as before, that we can meet thus peaceably, and quietly at Gods ordinances, and about our ordinary callings,¹ those that have an apprehension of the thing cannot choose but break ⟨p. 130⟩out in thanksgiving to God, in divers respects.

It was a pittifull state wee were in before: for ⟨p. 128⟩indeed it was not onely a sicknesse upon the Citie but a civill sicknesse: the whole state w•s distempered: for as there is sicknesse in the body when there is obstruction, when there is not a passage for the spirits and the blood from the liver, & from the heart, and from the head these obstructions cause weakenesse, and faintings, and consumption, So was there not an obstruction in the state of late? were not the veynes of the kingdome stopped? Was not civill commerce stayed? the affliction of this great Citie, it was as the affliction of the head ⟨p. 129⟩

:378p. 130

¹First of all, have not we matter to praise God that he would correct us at all? he might have suffered us to have gone on and been damned with the wicked world as it is 1 Cor. 11.33.² We are therefore chastened of the Lord that we should not be damned with the world: it is his mercy that he would take us into his hands as children, that he would visit us at all.

¹First of all, have not we matter to praise God that he would correct us at all? hee might have suffred us to have gone on and beene damned with the wicked world as it is 1 Cor. 11.33.² We are therfore chastened of the Lord that wee should not be damned with the world: it is his mercy that hee would take us into his hands as children, that he would visite us at all.

1That he would correct.That hee would correct.
21 Cor. 11.33.

:379p. 130–132

Another ground of thanksgiving is this that since he would correct us,² he would use this kind of correction, that he would take us into his own hands; ⟨p. 131⟩might he not have suffered a furious, bloody dark spirited, devilish spirited enemy to have invaded us, to have fallen into the hard hands of men acted with devilish malice? David thought this a favour, even that God would single him out to punish him with the Plague of pestilence that he might not fall before his enemies. The mercies of God are wondrous great when we fall into his hands he is a merciful God, he hath tender bowels fu•ll of pity and compassion: but The very mercies of wicked Idolaters are cruel, there was a mercy therefore in that, that God would take us ⟨p. 132⟩into his own hands.

Another ground of thankesgiving is this that since he would correct us,² he would use this kind of correction, that he would take us into his owne hands; ⟨p. 131⟩might he not have suffred a furious, bloody darke spirited, divellish spirited enemy to have invaded us, to have fallen into the hard hands of men acted with divel•ish malice? David thought this a favour, even that God would single him out to punish him with the Plague of pestilence that he might not fal before his enemies. The mercies of God are wondrous great when we fall into his hands hee is a mercifull God, hee hath tender bowels fu•ll of pitty and compassion: but The very mercies of wicked Idolaters are cruell, there was a mercie therefore in that, that God would take us ⟨p. 132⟩into his owne hands.

2That he would do it himself.

:380p. 132

³In the third place, we see when he had taken us into his own hands, how he hath stopped the raging of the pestilence, and hath inhibited the destroying Angel, even in a wondrous manner, that the Plague when it was so raging that it should come to decrease upon a sudden; God was wondrous in this work, is not here matter of praise?

³In the third place, we see when he had taken us into his own hands, how he hath stopped the raging of the pestilence, and hath inhibited the destroying Angell, even in a wondrous manner, that the Plague when it was so raging that it should come to decrease upon a sudden; God was wondrous in this worke, is not here matter of praise?

3That he stayed the Pestilence.

:381p. 132–133

⁴Then again, it is a mercy to us all here that he should give us our lives for a prey as God saith in Jeremiah to Baruch, Wheresoever thou goest thou shalt have thy life for a prey, might not Gods arrow have followed us ⟨p. 133⟩wheresoever we went?

⁴Then againe, it is a mercy to us all here that he should give us our lives for a prey as God sai•h in Ieremiah to Baruch, Wheresoever thou goest thou shalt have thy life for a prey, might not Gods arrow have followed us ⟨p. 133⟩wheresoever wee went?

4That our lives were spared.

:382p. 133

Whither can a man go from this arrow, but that God being every where might smite him with the pestilence? now in that he hath watched over us, and kept us from this noisome contagious sickness, and hath brought us altogether here quietly and freely, that so there may be intercourse between man and man in trading, and other callings, this is the fourth ground of praising of God.

Whither can a man goe from this arrow, but that God being every where might smite him with the pestilence? now in that hee hath watched over us, and kept us from this noysome contagious sicknes, and hath brought us altogether here quietly and freely, that so there may bee entercourse betweene man and man in trading, and other callings, this is the fourth ground of praysing of God.

:383p. 133–134

And that it did not rage in other parts: ⁵in former time God scattered the pestilence more ⟨p. 134⟩over the kingdom: It is a great matter to bless God for. I beseech you let us say with the same spirit, as this holy man h•re, Oh that men therefore would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for the wonders that he doth for the children of men! For his goodness, that he would rather correct us here then damn us, for his goodness, that he would not give us up to our enemies, For his goodness, that he staid the infection so suddenly, and that he staid the spreading of it further, For his goodness unto us in particular that he hath kept us all safe.

And that it did not rage in other parts: ⁵in former time God scattered the pestilence more ⟨p. 134⟩ouer the kingdome: It is a great matter to blesse God for. I beseech you let us say with the same spirit, as this holy man h•re, Oh that men therefore would prayse the Lord for his goodnes, and for the wonders that he doth for the children of men! For his goodnesse, that hee would rather correct us here then damne us, for his goodnesse, that hee would not giue us up to our enemies, For his goodnesse, that he stayd the infection so suddenly, and that he stayd the spreading of it further, For his goodnesse vnto us in particular that hee hath kept us all safe.

5That it spread not far.That it spread not farre.

:384p. 135–136

What shall we do now but consecrate, and dedicate these lives of ours for he gives us our lives more then once, at the beginning, there is never a one here but can say by experience, GOD hath given me my life, at such a time, and such a time, let us give these lives again to God, labour to reform our former courses, and enter into a new covenant with God, this is one part of thanksgiving to renew our covenant with God, to please him better, and indeed in every thanksgiving, that should be one ingredient. Now ⟨p. 136⟩Lord I intend; and resolve to please thee better, whatsoever my faults have formerly been, I resolve by thy grace, and assistance to break them off, without this all the other is but a dead performance.

What shall wee doe now but consecrate, and dedicate these liues of ours for he giues us our liues more then once, at the beginning, there is neuer a one heere but can say by experience, GOD hath given me my life, at such a time, and such a time, let us give these lives againe to God, labour to reforme our former courses, and enter into a new covenant with God, this is one part of thanksgiving to renew our covenant with God, to please him better, and indeed in every thanksgiving, that should bee one ingredient. Now ⟨p. 136⟩Lord I intend; and resolue to please thee better, whatsoeuer my faults haue formerly beene, I resolue by thy grace, and assistance to breake them off, without this all the other is but a dead performance.

:385p. 136

Now briefly by way of analogy, and proportion, to raise some meditations from that that hath hath been delivered concerning the body to the soul, for God is the Physician both to soul, and body.

Now breifly by way of analogie, and proportion, to rayse some meditations from that that hath hath beene delivered concerning the body to the soule, for God is the Physitian both to soule, and body.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36