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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 4: THE SAINTS SAFETY IN EVIL TIMES.Sermon 4: THE SAINTS SAFETY IN EVILL TIMES.
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.
It is not Gods commanding will,1 ⟨p. 131⟩but his suffering will; he useth their malice for his own ends; God lets the rain loose upon their necks; as a man is said to set a dog upon another when he unlooseth his chain; so God is said to command them, when he lets them loose to do mischief; they are full of malice themselves, which God useth as Physicians do their poison to cure poison; God and they go two contrary ways, as a man in a ship walks one way, but is carried another. In the death of Christ the will of Judas and the rest went one way, and Gods will another; so in all our sufferings, when God useth wicked men, their will is destructive and hostile, but Gods will is clean otherwise, aiming at the good of his people in all this. Nebuchadnezzar did the will of God in carrying the people captive, 2how ⟨p. 132⟩ever he thought not so. 3Every sinful wretch that offers violence to the poor Saints, imagine they do God good service in it, when as indeed they do but execute the malice and venom of their own hearts. In the highest heavens (as they say in Philosophy) the first thing moved is by a violent motion; the Sun is carried about the heavens violently, against its own proper motion, which inclines to a clean contrary course; so GOD dealeth with wicked men, he carries them they know not whither; they are set to do mischief, and God useth their sinful dispositions for his own ends, which plainly shows, that God is without all fault, and they without all excuse.
It is not Gods cōmanding will,1 ⟨p. 131⟩but his suffering will; hee useth their malice for his owne ends; God lets the rayne loose upon their neckes; as a man is said to set a dogg upon another when he unlooseth his chaine; so God is said to command them, when hee lets them loose to doe mischiese; they are full of malice themselves, which God useth as Physitians doe their poyson to cure poyson; God and they goe two contrary wayes, as a man in a shipp walkes one way, but is carryed another. In the death of Christ the will of Iudas and the rest went one way, and Gods will another; so in all our sufferings, when God useth wicked men, their will is destructive and hostile, but Gods will is cleane otherwise, ayming at the good of his people in all this. Nebuchadnezar did the will of God in carrying the people captive,