B00698:143
A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the…
A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the work of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the privileges and degrees of it, with the signs to discern, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Gray's Inn. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the worke of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the priviledges and degrees of it, with the signes to discerne, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Grayes Inne. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.
London: printed by Thomas Harper for Lawrence Chapman, 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.
But because in time of desertion and temptation we are in a mist, and cannot read our own faith, and our own graces, it pleaseth Christ after some trial and exercise to shine upon his own graces in the heart, whereby we may know we believe, and know we love: until which time the heart sees nothing that is good, and seems to be nothing but all objections, and doubtings. We may be sometimes in such a state as Paul and his company ⟨p. 152⟩was in the ship, Act. 27.20. when they saw neither Sun nor Stars many days together, almost past all hope. So a Christian may for many days together see neither Sun nor Star, neither light in GODS countenance, nor light in his own heart no grace issuing from GOD, no grace carrying the soul to God, though even at that time GOD darts some beam through those clouds upon the soul: the soul again by a Spirit of faith, sees some light through those thickest clouds, enough to keep the soul from utter despair, though not to settle it in peace.
But because in time of desertion and temptation we are in a myst, and cannot reade our owne faith, and our owne graces, it pleaseth Christ after some triall and exercise to shine upon his owne graces in the heart, whereby we may know we beleeve, and know we love: untill which time the heart sees nothing that is good, and seemes to bee nothing but all objections, and doubtings. Wee may bee sometimes in such a state as Paul and his company ⟨p. 152⟩was in the ship, Act. 27.20. when they saw neither Sun nor Starres many dayes together, almost past all hope. So a Christian may for many dayes together see neither Sunne nor Starre, neither light in GODS countenance, nor light in his own heart no grace issuing from GOD, no grace carrying the soule to God, though even at that time GOD darts some beame through those clouds upon the soule: the soule againe by a Spirit of faith, sees some light through those thickest clouds, enough to keepe the soule from utter despaire, though not to settle it in peace.