B00698:32
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.
and makes them at length with shame, lay their hands upon their mouths, and be silent. Yet that is one reason they stick so long in temptations, and are kept so long under the Spirit of bondage. Those likewise cannot but grieve the Comforter, that leave his comforts, and seek for other Comforters: that think there is not comfort enough in Religion, but will bow down ⟨p. 29⟩to the world, such as linger after the liberties of the flesh, after stolen waters; as if God kept house not good enough for them. It is a great disparagement to prefer husks before the provision of our fathers house, and to dye (like fish out of their proper element) if we want carnal comforts. But above all, they grieve the Spirit most, that have had deepest acquaintance with the Spirit; and have received greatest favours from the Spirit. When the holy Ghost comes in love, and we have given way to him to enlighten our understandings, and when in our affections, we have tasted of the good things of God, ⟨p. 30⟩that the promises are sweet, and the Gospel is good. When we have given such way to the Spirit, then to use him unkindly; this grieves the Spirit. Where the holy Ghost hath not only set up a light, but given a taste of heavenly things, and yet we upon false allurements will grow to […] distaste, it cannot but grieve the Spirit. And this makes the sin against the holy Ghost so desperate, because there hath been a strong conviction and illumination.1 Therefore of all sins the sins of Professors o• Religion, grieve the Spirit most; and of all Professor those that have most mean• of knowledge: because their obligations are dee• ⟨p. 31⟩and their engagements greater. The deeper do affection hath entered, the greater the grief must needs be in unloosing. The offence of friends, grieves more than the injuries of enemies. And therefore the sins that offend GOD most, are committed within the Church; where is the greatest sin of all, the sin against the holy Ghost committed, but within the Church? and where there is the greatest light, and the greatest means. Sins against knowledge grieve most, especially, if there be a malicious opposing: for there can be nothing to excuse it. The malice of the will maketh the sin of the deeper die: