A12202:55
A12202:55
The spiritual favourite at the throne of grace. By the late learned, and reverend divine Richard Sibbs Doctor in Divinity. Published by the authors own appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent unperfect copiesThe spirituall favorite at the throne of grace. By the late learned, and reverend divine Richard Sibbs Doctor in Divinity. Published by the authors owne appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent unperfect copies
London: printed by Thomas Paine for Ralph Mabb, 1640
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.
The comfortable observation hence is this,1 that weak Christians,2 that find a debility, and faintness, and feebleness in their performances; hence they may comfort themselves, by their desire to fear God, and to worship God, and to serve him: if their desires be true. Therefore in Isaiah 26. the Church allegeth it to God, in the way of thy judgements have we sought thee, &c. The desire of our souls is towards thy Name: ⟨p. 49⟩they bring it as a prevailing argument to God. So when we come to God, The desire of our souls is toward thy Name. Lord our endeavours are weak and feeble, but the desire of our souls is to thy name, and thou wilt not quench the smoking flax: therefore we come to thee with these weak and poor desires that we have: The Lord will fulfil the desires of them that fear him, Psal. 145.3 If they be but desires, if they be true, and growing, and constant desires, and desires of grace as well as of happiness, as I showed before.
The comfortable observation hence is this,1 that weak Christians,2 that finde a debilitie, and faintnesse, and feeblenesse in their performances; hence they may comfort themselves, by their desire to feare God, and to worship God, and to serve him: if their desires bee true. Therefore in Isaiah 26. the Church alledgeth it to God, in the way of thy judgements have we sought thee, &c. The desire of our soules is towards thy Name: ⟨p. 49⟩they bring it as a prevailing argument to God. So when we come to God, The desire of our soules is toward thy Name. Lord our indeavours are weake and feeble, but the desire of our soules is to thy name, and thou wilt not quench the smoaking flax: therefore wee come to thee with these weake and poore desires that we have: The Lord will fulfill the desires of them that feare him, Psal. 145.3 If they be but desires, if they be true, and growing, and constant desires, and desires of grace as well as of happinesse, as I shewed before.
The reason why God ⟨p. 50⟩accepts them, is partly because they spring from his own spirit: these desires they are the breathings of the spirit. 1For even as it is in places where fountains and springs are digged up,2 they are known and discovered by vapours, the vapours show that there is some water there, some spring, if it were digged up: so these desires, these breathings to God for grace and comfort, these spiritual breathings, they show that there is a spring within, and spirit within, whence these vapours and desires come; therefore they are accepted of God, because they spring from ⟨p. 51⟩his own Spirit.
The reason why God ⟨p. 50⟩accepts them, is partly because they spring from his owne spirit: these desires they are the breathings of the spirit. 1For even as it is in places where fountaines and springs are digged up,2 they are knowne and discovered by vapors, the vapors shew that there is some water there, some spring, if it were digged up: so these desires, these breathings to God for grace and comfort, these spirituall breathings, they shew that there is a spring within, and spirit within, whence these vapors and desires come; therefore they are accepted of God, because they spring from ⟨p. 51⟩his owne Spirit.
And because they are pointed to heaven-ward,1 to show that a man is turned; for it is put here instead of turning, Turn ye to me, saith the Lord; and he answereth here instead of turning, My desire is to fear thy name. Because, when the desire is altered, then the frame of the soul is altered, a man is turned another way; the desire is the weight of the soul. What carries the soul, but desire? Now when the soul is carried another way then before, it argues an alteration of the frame, therefore it pleaseth God to accept of them.
And because they are pointed to heaven-ward,1 to shew that a man is turned; for it is put here instead of turning, Turne yee to me, saith the Lord; and he answereth here instead of turning, My desire is to feare thy name. Because, when the desire is altered, then the frame of the soule is altered, a man is turned another way; the desire is the weight of the soule. What carries the soule, but desire? Now when the soule is carried another way then before, it argues an alteration of the frame, therefore it pleaseth God to accept of thē.
I beseech you let us often enter into our own souls, and examine what our desires are, which way the bent of our souls is; what cause we would have to flourish and prevail in the world, Christs, or Antichrists, for God esteems us by the frame of our desires: Who desire to fear thy Name.
I beseech you let us often enter into onr owne soules, and examine what our desires are, which way the bent of our soules is; what cause we would have to flourish and prevaile in the world, Christs, or Antichrists, for God esteemes us by the frame of our desires: Who desire to feare thy Name.
Now he comes to his petition, Prosper I pray thee thy servant this day. He doth not capitulate with God for particular matters much, (for he knew he had to deal with an all-wise God) but he commends his petition in general, Prosper I pray thee thy servant, &c. He was to attend the King, and he was in his attendance to mind the state of the ⟨p. 54⟩Church, for the re-edifying the walls and gates of Jerusalem: now saith he in general, Prosper thy servant, he leaves it to God, how, and in what manner, being to deal (as I said) with an infinite wise God: only he prays in general, prosper thy servant this day.
NOw he comes to his petition, Prosper I pray thee thy servant this day. Hee doth not capitulate with God for particular matters much, (for he knew hee had to deale with an all-wise God) but hee commends his petition in generall, Prosper I pray thee thy servant, &c. He was to attend the King, and he was in his attendance to mind the state of the ⟨p. 54⟩Church, for the re-edifying the walls and gates of Ierusalem: now saith he in generall, Prosper thy servant, he leaves it to God, how, and in what manner, being to deale (as I said) with an infinite wise God: onely he prayes in generall, prosper thy servant this day.
He comes again with his relation of servant, 1to teach us alway when we come to God, to look in what relation we stand to him, whether we be true servants or no: what work we do for him, in what reference we do what we do, whether we do it to please him as servants, or ⟨p. 55⟩no. I said something of the relation of servant before: I will add a little here, because he repeats it four or five times in this short prayer.
He comes againe with his relation of servant, 1to teach us alway when wee come to God, to looke in what relation we stand to him, whether we be true servants or no: what work we doe for him, in what reference we doe what we doe, whether we doe it to please him as servants, or ⟨p. 55⟩no. I said something of the relation of servant before: I will adde a little here, because he repeates it foure or five times in this short prayer.
In all our services we should look to God: for our aim in our works show what they are,1 whether they come from servants, or no. As the stamp upon a token makes it, if there be a good stamp on it, it is not the matter that makes it current. A stamp on silver makes it current as well as gold, though the metal of gold be better. So when things are done, because God commands them, to please God, ⟨p. 56⟩as a service to him: this makes it good that we are servants indeed, that the relation is good. When we go about the service of the Church or Country, or place we live in, to think I do God service here, and do it as a service to God, who will be honoured and served in our service to others: herein I am a good servant, though the matter of my service be a common, base, and mean matter; yet it hath a stamp upon it, it is Gods will, God hath placed and planted me here, and he will be served of me in this condition at this time, though the matter ⟨p. 57⟩of it be an ordinary thing. I know it may help the good of the Church: it hath reference to the will of God, and the good of the Church. Thus if we do what we do with an eye to God in the place where he hath set us, that we do it as to him, we are Gods servants whatsoever the work is.
In all our services wee should looke to God: for our ayme in our workes shew what they are,1 whether they come from servants, or no. As the stamp upon a token makes it, if there be a good stamp on it, it is not the matter that makes it current. A stamp on silver makes it current as well as gold, though the metall of gold be better. So when things are done, because God commands them, to please God, ⟨p. 56⟩as a service to him: this makes it good that we are servants indeed, that the relation is good. When we goe about the service of the Church or Country, or place we live in, to thinke I doe God service here, and doe it as a service to God, who will be honoured and served in our service to others: herein I am a good servant, though the matter of my service be a common, base, and meane matter; yet it hath a stamp upon it, it is Gods will, God hath placed and planted mee here, and he will be served of me in this condition at this time, though the matter
And let us remember oft to think of it, to bring it in our prayers: Master (say they when they were ready to be drowned) dost thou not care that we perish? They put him in mind of the relation they were in to him. So ⟨p. 58⟩when we can put God in mind of our relation, Father, we are thy children, Lord, we are thy servants; it will strengthen our faith and hope of all good. Will a Master suffer his servant to miscarry in his service? surely God will never turn away true hearted servants, that have served him a long time. It puts us in mind of our duty, and serves to strengthen our faith: for as it is a word of service on our part, so it is a promising word of all good from God. Doth he expect, that Masters should be good to their servants because they have a Master ⟨p. 59⟩in heaven, and will not the great Master of Heaven be good to his servants? you see how he follows the relation.
And let us remember oft to thinke of it, to bring it in our prayers: Master (say they when they were ready to be drowned) dost thou not care that we perish? They put him in minde of the relation they were in to him. So ⟨p. 58⟩when we can put God in minde of our relation, Father, we are thy children, Lord, we are thy servants; it will strengthen our faith and hope of all good. Will a Master suffer his servant to miscarrie in his service? surely God will never turne away true hearted servants, that have served him a long time. It puts us in minde of our duty, and serves to strengthen our faith: for as it is a word of fervice on our part, so it is a promising word of all good from God. Doth he expect, that Masters should bee good to their servants because they have a Master ⟨p. 59⟩in heaven, and will not the great Master of Heaven be good to his servants? you see how he followes the relation.
It includes not only success, (which is the main upshot of all, but all that tends to good success: ⟨p. 60⟩prosper thy servant this day; that is, direct thy servant this day how to do, and to carry himself. And likewise assist thy servant; when thou shalt direct him, assist him by thy strength, direct him by thy wisdom, prosper him with thy grace, give him good success in all. It includes direction, and assistance, and good success; in that he saith, prosper thy servant, it includes these things.
It includes not onely successe, (which is the maine upshot of all, but all that tends to good successe: ⟨p. 60⟩prosper thy servant this day; that is, direct thy servant this day how to doe, and to carry himself. And likewise assist thy servant; when thou shalt direct him, assist him by thy strength, direct him by thy wisedome, prosper him with thy grace, give him good successe in all. It includes direction, and assistance, and good successe; in that he saith, prosper thy servant, it includes these things.
First of all, that in our selves, there is neither direction nor wisdom, nor ability enough for success: we have not power in our selves to bring ⟨p. 61⟩things to a comfortable issue: so it enforceth self denial; which is a good disposition when we come to God in prayer.
First of all, that in our selves, there is neither direction nor wisedome, nor abilitie enough for successe: we have not power in our selves to bring ⟨p. 61⟩things to a comfortable issue: so it inforceth selfe deniall; which is a good disposition when we come to God in prayer.
And then again to attribute §2to God all, both wisdom, and strength, and goodness and all: here is a giving to God the glory of all, when he saith, prosper thy servant this day.
And then againe to attribute §2to God all, both wisedome, and strength, and goodnesse and all: here is a giving to God the glory of all, when hee saith, prosper thy servant this day.
Then in the third place,§3 here is a dependence upon God; not only acknowledging these things to be in God; but it implies a dependence upon God for these, Prosper me Lord, I cannot prosper my self; & thou who art the Creator, ⟨p. 62⟩hast wisdom and strength, and goodness enough: therefore I depend upon thee; upon thy wisdom for direction, and upon thy strength for assistance, I depend upon thy goodness, and all for a blessed issue, here is dependence.
Then in the third place,§3 here is a dependance upon God; not onely acknowledging these things to be in God; but it implies a dependance upon God for these, Prosper me Lord, I cannot prosper my selfe; & thou who art the Creator, ⟨p. 62⟩hast wisedome and strength, and goodnesse enough: therefore I depend upon thee; upon thy wisedome for direction, and upon thy strength for assistance, I depend upon thy goodnesse, and all for a blessed issue, here is dependance.
Again in the fourth place, here is a recommendation of all by prayer: a recommendation of his inward dependence upon God for all.1 Now Lord prosper thy servant.
Againe in the fourth place, here is a recommendation of all by prayer: a recommendation of his inward dependance upon God for all.1 Now Lord prosper thy servant.