A12191:388
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.
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.
If God with his word can heal our bodies as the ⟨p. 137⟩Psalmist saith here, much more can he with his word heal our Soul.1 There are many that their bodies are well (thanks be to God) but how is it with their souls? here you have some symptoms to know their spiritual state and oh that people were apprehensive of it!2 have you not many that their soul loatheth all manner of meat, and they draw near the gates of death, their souls are in a desperate state, they are deeply sick, how shall we know it? their soul abhorreth all manner of wholesome meat: how many are there that relish Poets, and history, ⟨p. 138⟩any trifle that doth but feed their vain fancy and yet cannot relish the blessed truth, and ordinances of God? Where is spiritual life, when this spiritual sense is gone: when men cannot relish holy things? if they relish the ordinance of God, it is not the spiritual part of it, so far as the spirit toucheth the conscience, but something that (it may be) is suitable to their conceit expressions, or phrases or the like, but it is a symptom and sign of a fearful declining state, when men do not relish the spiritual ordinances of God, which should be (as it ⟨p. 139⟩were) their appointed food, when they do not delight to acquaint themselves with God in hearing of the word, and reading, and the like, let such therefore, as delight not in spiritual things know that their souls lye gasping they are at the gates of spiritual death, all is not well there is some fearful obstruction upon the soul, that takes away the appetite, the soul runs into the world overmuch, they cloy themselves with the world, when men cannot relish heavenly things they are eat up with the delight and joy of other things pleasures and profits.