B00698:146
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.
The reason why we can neither have grace to believe, nor know we believe, nor when we know we believe, enjoy comfort without a fresh new act of the Spirit, is because the whole carriage of a soul to heaven is above nature, where the Spirit makes a stand, we stand and can go no further; we cannot conclude from right grounds without some help of the Spirit, some doubts, some fears will hinder the application to our selves, even as those that live in some damnable sin cannot but grant that those that live in such a sin shall never inherit heaven: and their conscience tells them ⟨p. 156⟩they live in such a sin, yet self-love blinds them so, that they will not conclude against themselves that they shall be damned, so true believers cannot conclude for themselves without divine light and help.
The reason why wee can neither have grace to beleeve, nor know wee beleeve, nor when wee know we beleeve, enjoy comfort without a fresh new act of the Spirit, is because the whole carriage of a soule to heaven is above nature, where the Spirit makes a stand, we stand and can goe no further; wee cannot conclude from right grounds without some helpe of the Spirit, some doubts, some feares will hinder the application to our selves, even as those that live in some damnable sinne cannot but grant that those that live in such a sinne shall never inherit heaven: and their conscience tels them ⟨p. 156⟩they live in such a sinne, yet selfe-love blindes them so, that they will not conclude against themselves that they shall be damned, so true beleevers cannot conclude for themselves without divine light and helpe.
It pleaseth God thus to keep every degree and act of sealing in his own hand, to keep us in a perpetual dependence upon him, and to awe us, that we should not grieve the Spirit of grace, and cause him to suspend either act of grace or comfort.
It pleaseth God thus to keepe every degree and act of sealing in his owne hand, to keep us in a perpetuall dependance upon him, and to awe us, that wee should not grieve the Spirit of grace, and cause him to suspend either act of grace or comfort.