A12197:544
The saints safety in evil times Delivered at St Mary's in Cambridge the fifth…The saints safetie in evill times Delivered at St Maries in Cambridge the fift…
The saints safety in evil times Delivered at St Mary's in Cambridge the fifth of November, upon occasion of the Powder-Plot. Whereunto is annexed a passion-sermon, preached at Mercers Chapel London upon Good-Friday. As also the happiness of enjoying Christ laid open at the funeral of Mr Sherland late recorder of Northampton. Together with the most virtuous life and heavenly end of that religious gentleman. By R. Sibbes D.D. master of Katherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher at Gray's-Inn London.The saints safetie in evill times Delivered at St Maries in Cambridge the fift of November, upon occasion of the Povvder-Plot. Whereunto is annexed a passion-sermon, preached at Mercers Chappel London upon Good-Friday. As also the happinesse of enjoying Christ laid open at the funerall of Mr Sherland late recorder of Northampton. Together with the most vertuous life and heavenly end of that religious gentleman. By R. Sibbes D.D. master of Katherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher at Grayes-Inne London.
London: printed by M. Flesher for R. Dawlman, 1634
Sermon 2: THE UNGODLIES MISERY.Sermon 2: THE VNGODLIES MISERY.
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 the Spirit works with §1the Gospel by degrees. 1. It ⟨p. 85⟩bringeth some to be willing to hear the Gospel, who yet presently neglect and dis-regard the the same. 2. Others are more §2obedient for a time (as the stony ground) but because they opened not their hearts to the working of the Spirit only,1 but will be ruled partly by carnal wisdom, and partly by the Spirit, it leaves them at last altogether. 3. But §3some there are who give up themselves wholly to the government of Christ, to be ruled in all things by his blessed Spirit; highly esteeming the treasures of heaven, and comforts of a better life, above all the fading outward felicities which this world can afford▪ who would not to gain any earthly thing, hurt their consciences, or once defile themselves with unfruitful works of darkness; fearing lest they should in ⟨p. 86⟩any thing dishonour Christ, or grieve his good Spirit, and to such only hath the Gospel come in power.2 Therefore I beseech you seriously consider of this truth if you would not disobey the Gospel, disobey not the Spirit accompanying the same; deal faithfully with your own souls. Which of you all hath not some time or other had his heart warmed with the sweet motions of Gods Spirit? Oh do not resist these holy stirrings within you, give way to the motions of the blessed Spirit of God, second them with holy resolutions to practise the same; let them sink deep into your hearts, root them there, and never give over the holy meditation of them, till you make them your own, till you come to see Grace and the state of Christianity to be the most amiable and excellent thing in the ⟨p. 87⟩world, & sin & carnal courses to be the most accursed thing in the world, worse than any misery, than any beggary, torment, or disgrace whatsoever. Beloved till we have our spirits wrought upon to this high esteem of good things, & to a base undervaluing of all things else, we shall rebel against Christ first or last: for until such time as the heart of man is overpowered with Grace, he cannot but disobey the Gospel, either by shutting it out altogether, or by making an evil use of what he knoweth (thereby turning the grace of God into wantonness) or else by revolting from the truth received altogether: When times of temptation come, unsound Christians will do one of these three, either despise, refuse or revolt from the truth.