A12198:500
The Soul's Conflict with Itself
The souls conflict with it self, and victory over it self by faith a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs ...The soules conflict with it selfe, and victory over it self by faith a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs ...
London: printed by M.F. for R. Dawlman, 1635
THE SOULS CONFLICT with it self. › Chapter 17THE SOVLES CONFLICT with it selfe. › Chapter 17
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.
In advice with others, it is not sufficient to be generally wise, but experienced and knowing in that we ask, which is an honour to Gods gifts where we find them in any kind. When we set about things in passion, we work not as men or Christians, but in a bestial manner. The more passion, the less discretion; because passion hinders the sight of what is to be done. It clouds the soul, and puts it on to action without advisement. Where passions are subdued, and the soul purged and cleared, there is nothing to hinder the impression of Gods spirit; the soul is fitted as a clean glass to receive light from above. And that is the reason why mortified men are fittest to advise with in the particular cases incident to a Christian life.
In advice with others, it is not sufficient to be generally wise, but experienced and knowing in that wee aske, which is an honour to Gods gifts where we finde them in any kinde. When we set about things in passion, we work not as men or Christians, but in a bestiall manner. The more passion, the lesse discretion; because passion hinders the sight of what is to be done. It clouds the soule, and puts it on to action without advisement. Where passions are subdued, and the soule purged and cleared, there is nothing to hinder the impression of Gods spirit; the soule is fitted as a cleane glasse to receive light from above. And that is the reason why mortified men are fittest to advise with in the particular cases incident to a Christian life.
After all advise, extract what is fittest, ⟨p. 292⟩1and what our spirits do most bend unto: For in things that concern our selves, God affords a light to discern out of what is spoken, what best suits us. And every man is to follow most what his own conscience, (after information) dictates unto him; because conscience is Gods deputy in us, and under God most to be regarded, and whosoever sins against it, in his own construction sins against God. God vouchsafeth every Christian in some degree, the grace of spiritual prudence, whereby they are enabled to discern what is fittest to be done in things that fall within their compass.