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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12190	The returning backslider, or, A commentarie upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy of the prophet Hosea Wherein is shewed the large extent of Gods free mercy, even unto the most miserable forlorne and wretched sinners that may be, upon their humiliation and repentance. Preached by that learned and judicious divine, Dr. Sibbs, late preacher to the honourable society of Grayes Inne, and master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge. Published by his owne permission before his death.	Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635.	1639 (1639)	STC 22500; ESTC S117394	275,564	592

page 396 c. God how to be conceived of in our worshipping of him page 344 345. God not to bee transformed like our selves in our affections page 345 346. To set up any thing in our soules above God is Idolatry page 347. God is the onely true defence and shelter page 386 c. Christians happinesse arising from hence page 387. God not being wicked mens shelter makes their estate most wofull page 387. Who have not God for a shelter are most miserable page 392 393. Grace Grace compared to dew in sundry respects page 207 c. Grace of God free p. 207 208 Grace of God comes insensibly and invisibly page 208 209. Grace works mildly upon the soule page 210. Grace cheeres and comforts the soule page 211. Grace makes barren soules fruitfull page 212. Grace of God unresistible page 212. Barrennesse in Grace ought not to discourage us page 213. Grace the meanes to increase it page 113. Grace wrought in the soule is an evidence of the pardon of sin in that soule page 215. All Grace from God page 216 217. Grace how to be attained pag 218. Grace compared to Olives in divers respects page 250 c. How to be rooted in Grace page 237 c. Grace why some have more then others page 408. In praying for Grace we must waite Gods leisure page 408. Grace is of a fructifying nature page 281. Gratious fruit comes from God and us too page 404. Growth Growth of Christians like Lillies page 219. Sudden Growth of Gods children page 220 221. Growth in Grace the necessity of it page 214. Growth in Grace the meanes to attaine to it page 225 c. Growth in Grace to be indeavoured after page 242 c. Christians many times deceived about their Growth in Grace page 240 c. Growth in Grace the chiefest blessing page 243. Growing Christians their excellency page 300. Governours Governours of Families ought to endeavour to bee good for their sakes that are under them page 272. Gratious Governours will communicate Grace to their Family p. 273. Gospell Gospell first and second spring of it speedy page 22● H Hatred Hatred of sin how to discerne it page 311 312 c. True Hatred of sin is universall page 311 312. True Hatred of sin is implacable page 312 313. Hatred of sin ever followes true Conversion page 319. Hatred of sin how to be attained page 321. 368. Hatred of sin how knowne page 371. Heart Heart chiefly required of God page 311. Broken Heart a sacrifice p. 45. Humility Humility a certaine way to shun Gods anger page 197. I Idolatry Idolatry men prone to it by nature page 92. 356. Idolatry what it is page 93. Idolatry frames base conceits of God page 334. Idolatry how it is committed page 335. Idolatry the occasions of it to be avoided page 343 344. Close Idolatries of many Christians page 344 c. Idolatry Gods puishments on people for it page 357. Idolatry meanes to avoid it page 354 c. Idolaters hatefull to God p. 354 Idolaters Gods punishments on them page 357. Idolatry how sleighted by many page 360. Nothing lost by renouncing Idolatry page 373 374. Idols Idols why to be hated page 333 c. Idols abhominable to God page 333. Idols opposite to God p. 334. Infirmities Infirmities why God suffers them in his children p. 161 c. Infirmities of Gods children made their gaine page 162. Our Infirmities ought not too much to deject us page 163. Impenitent Impenitent sinners not to bee envied page 138. Infidelity Infidelity the cause of all woe page 446. Iust. Iust men who they be p. 450. Iust men have respect to all Gods Commandements p 450 451. Iust men do● all things to a good end page 451 452. Iust men desire to grow in grace page 452. Iust men love the Brethren page 452. Iust men have onely cause to rejoyce page 453. K Knowledge Knowledge of God and Christ is a meanes to make people leave Idolatry page 354 355. L Life Life of man subject to many annoyances both outward and inward page 391 392. Men must bee endewed with spirituall Life before they can walke in Gods waies page 461. Love Love of God an evidence of the pardon of our sins p. 30 31. Love of God to his people free page 172 173. Love of God to us eternall page 177. Love of God to us not to bee measured by our feeling of it page 179. Love of God the cause of all mercies to us page 179 c. Gods Love is a fruitfull Love page 205. M Mercy Mercy Gods scope in the new Covenant page 149. Gods Mercies are compleate to his children page 33. Mercy sweetneth all Gods Attributes page 106. Mercy agreeable to Gods nature page 191. God chiefely Mercifull to those who most stand in need of his Mercy page 108. Mercifullnesse Mercifullnesse to others is an evidence of the pardon of our sinnes page 31. Mercifullnesse a character of Gods child page 116. Meanes Meanes of salvation not profited by bring destruction p. 255. In the use of all Meanes to looke up unto God page 409. Masses Masses that we ought not to be present at them page 340. Man Man not to be a prescriber of his owne way page 444. O Occasions Occasions of sin to be avoided page 316. P Papists Papists grosse Idolaters page 94 335 c. Their shifts for worshipping Images answered page 95. Papists how they Idolize Saints page 336. Papists make an Idoll of the Pope page 337. Papists worse Idolaters then the Heathen page 339. Papists why they are so impudent in their Idolatry p. 340. Papists why so hardly converted page 356. Papists not to be conversed with page 342. Popish Writers to beware of them page 343. No reconciliation betweene Papists and Protestants page 341. Pardon Pardon of sinne the chiefest mercy which makes way for all other page 153. God Pardon 's all sinnes page 129 130 145. Pardon of sinne why not apprehended page 153. Pardon of sinne how knowne page 156 c. Pardon of sinne how knowne when we are still subject to sin page 160. Pardon of sinne not attained without Humiliation and Reformation page 166 167. Peace Peace of conscience is an evidence of the pardon of our sins page 30 157. Peace of conscience in a carnall man whence it comes page 159. Perseverance Perseverance the ground of it page 181. Persons To have Persons of men in admiration is Idolatry page 347. Performances Outward Performances trusted too is Idolatry page 351. People God hath his People in the worst times page 456 c. Prayer Prayer is a speciall helpe against all sin and sorrow p. 17. Prayer sets God on work p. 18 Prayer answered where a Spirit of Prayer is given p. 126 127. Our Prayers are heard when we renounce sin page 375 376. Praise Praise an acceptable Sacrifice to God page 48 49. Helps to enable ●to Praise God page 50. Praising o●●od must be from a broken he● page 51.

be consummated by Repentance and Sanctifying grace Let no man therefore be too much cast downe for infirmities though ofttimes they breake out In what case we may be comforted though infirmities breake out if thereupon we finde a renewed hatred Repentance and strength against them for God looks not so much how much corruption there is in us as how we stand affected to it and what good there is whether we be in league with it and resist it It is not sinne that damnes men but sin with the ill qualities sin unconfessed not grieved for and unresisted else God hath holy ends in leaving corruption in us to exercise trie us and keepe us from other sinnes Therefore sinne is left uncured Now the way to have it cured The way to have sinne cured both in heaven and in sense of conscience by Sanctification both in the Pardon and likewise in Sanctification we have it in the Context what doth God say I will heale their backsliding c. after they had searched their hearts and thereupon found iniquity and then prayed Take away all iniquity after they had desired a divorse from their sinnes Ashur shall not save us and when they had some faith that God would cure them and accordingly put confidence in God the Father of the Fatherlesse Then saith God I will heale their backsliding so that sense of pardon in the forgivenesse of sinnes and sense of grace comes after sight sense wearinesse and confession of sinne God doth not pardon sinne when it is not seene sorrowed for nor confessed and where there is not some degree of faith to come to God the Father of the Fatherlesse and the great Physitian of soules When wee do this as it is said in the Context then wee finde the forgivenesse of sinnes with the gratious power of Gods Spirit healing of our diseases I will heale their backsliding Let us therefore remember this least we deceive our soules for it is not so easie a thing to attaine unto forgivenesse of sinnes as wee thinke That though ●orgivenesse of sinnes bee freely given yet the preparing way thereunto costs us deare And then againe though forgivenesse of sinnes bee free yet notwithstanding there is a way whereby wee come to forgivenesse of sinnes that costs us somewhat God humbles the soule first brings a man to himselfe to thinke of his course to lay open his sinnes and spread them before God in confession and working upon the soule heartie Repentance so to come to God and waite for forgivenesse of sinnes perhaps a good while before there be a report of it There are none who have sins forgiven but they know how they come by it for there is a predisposition wrought in a mans soule by the Spirit which teacheth him what estate he is in and what his danger is whereupon followes confession and upon that peace God keepes his children many times a long while upon the racke before hee speakes peace unto them in the forgivenesse of sinnes because hee would not have them thinke sleightly of the riches of his mercy It is no easie matter to attaine unto the sense of the forgivenesse of sinnes though indeed wee should strive to attaine it that so wee may walke in the comforts of the Holy Ghost The difficulty of obtaining or recovering the sense of forgivenesse may be seene in David after his fall did hee easily obtaine sense of pardon O no God held him on the racke a long time He roared all the day long Psal 32.3 4. his moisture was turned into the drought of Summer But when hee had resolved a through and no sleight confession when he had resolved to shame himselfe and glorifie God then saith he And thou forgavest my sinne but till he dealt throughly with his soule without all guile he felt no comfort So it is with the children of God when in the state of grace they fall into sinne it is no sleight Lord have mercy upon me that will serve the turne but a through shaming of themselves before God and a through confession resolving and determining to be under another government to have Christ to governe them Why the soule must waite and be humbled before the sense of the forgivenesse of sinnes as well as to pardon them God will no otherwise do it Because hee would glorifie his rich mercy herein for who would give mercy its due glory if forgivenesse were easily attained without shaming of our selves If it came easily without protestation and waiting upon God as the Church heere we should never be throughly humbled for our sinnes and God would never have the glory of his mercy nor knowne to bee so just in hating of sinne in his deare children who long agoe upon such tearmes have attained sense of forgivenesse of sinnes It is worth our trouble to search our soules and to waite at Christs feete never to give over untill we have attained the sense of forgivenesse of sinne It is heaven upon earth to have our consciences inlarged with Gods favour in the pardon of sin That there can be no sense of pardon where Humiliation and Reformation is wanting What is the Reason that many professe that God is mercifull and Christ hath pardoned their sinnes c. if the ground be right it is a high conceit of mercy and such have beene soundly humbled for their sinnes But dost thou professe so who livest carelesly in thy sinnes and licentiously still surely thy ground is naught for hadst thou beene upon the racke in Gods scalding-house and smarted soundly for sinne wouldest thou take pleasure still to live in sinne O no. Those that goe on carelesly in their actions and speeches not caring what they are did they ever smart for sinne who carrie themselves thus Surely these were never soundly humbled for sinne nor confessed them with loathing and detestation Therefore let us marke the Context heere inferred after they had confessed praied and waited resolving Reformation in their false confidence then God promiseth I will heale their backsliding It is a fundamentall error in a Christian course the sleighting of true humiliation which goes along in all the Fabrick and frame of a Christian course Let a man not be soundly humbled with the sight of his sins his faith is weaker and his Sanctification and comfort the sleighter Whereas if a man would deale truly with his owne heart set up a Court there and arraigne judge and condemne himselfe which is Gods end in all his dealings afflictions and judgements inflicted upon us the deeper wee went in this course the more would our comfort be and the report of Gods mercy in the sense of that which followes I will love them freely for mine Anger is turned away The end of the fifth Sermon THE SIXTH SERMON HOS 14.4 5. J will love them freely for mine Anger is turned away J will be as the Dew unto Israel he shall grow as the Lillie and cast forth his Roote as

good 1. To know Gods free grace First labour to know God and his free Grace in Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.18 Grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ they goe both together the more we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Grace of God in him the more grace and rootednesse wee shall have For that which the soule doth cleerely apprehend it fastens upon in that measure it apprehendeth it Cleerenesse in the understanding breeds earnestnesse in the affections and fastnesse too So the more wee grow in knowledg the more we roote our selves in that we know And therefore the Apostle prayes for the Ephesians that they might have the Spirit of Revelation c. That they might know the height breadth depth and length of Gods love that passeth knowledge Ephes 3.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ of whom the whole family of Heaven and Earth is named that he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to bee strengthened by his Spirit in the inner-man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love in the sense of Gods love to us and so of our love to him againe for we are not rooted in love to God till we be rooted in the sense of Gods love to us that you may bee able to comprehend with all Saints the height and breadth c. 1. Labour to know the Promises And withall labour to know the gratious Promises of Christ for we are knit to him by vertue of his word and Promises which like himselfe are Yea and Amen JEHOVAH yesterday to day the same for ever 2 Cor. 1.20 So al his Promises made in him they are Yea and Amen in themselves firme and firme to us in him They are Yea and Amen that is they are made and performed in Christ in whom they are sure to be performed and thereupon they are firme too God made them who is JEHOVAH and they are made in Christ that is JEHOVAH So God the Father JEHOVAH he promiseth and he makes them good in Christ JEHOVAH who is unchangeable But this is not enough 3. Our hearts must be stablished on that which is firme wee must labour to have our hearts stablished that they may rely firmely on that which is firme For if a thing be never so firme except we rely firmely on it there is no stability or strength from it Now when there is strength in the thing and strength in the soule that strength is impregnable and unconquerable strength In Christ they are Yea and Amen in whom he stablisheth us annoints us seales us and gives us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts How doth God stablish us upon the Promises How God doth stablish us The rest which followeth is an explication of this when he gives us the earnest of the Spirit and seales us to be his in token he meanes to make good the bargaine then we are established But we are never firmely established till we get the assurance of salvation Then as the Promises are Yea and Amen in themselves so we are stablished upon them when we are sealed and have the earnest of the Spirit Let us labour therefore to grow in the knowledge of Gods love in Christ to know the height breadth depth and length of it and to grow in all the gratious Promises which are made in Christ who is Amen himselfe as his Promises are and then when we are sealed and annointed by the Spirit we shall be so stablished that nothing shall moove us Therefore let us use all meanes for the establishing of growth in us the Word and Sacraments especially For as Baptisme admits us into the house of God so by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the blessed food of the soule wee are strengthened In the use of these meanes let us make suite unto God to make good his gratious Promise unto us that wee shall grow as Lillies and take roote as the Cedars in Lebanon Let us know that we ought every day to labour to be more and more rooted do we know what times may befall us We have need to grow every day to grow upward and in breadth and in depth If wee considered what times we may live to it should force us to grow every way especially in humility that roote and mother or graces to grow downeward in that to grow in knowledge and faith untill wee be filled with the fullnesse of God Object A poore Christian ofttimes makes this Objection O I doe not grow therefore I feare my state I am oft shaken therefore this Promise is not fulfilled to me Answ To this I answer Christians may be deceived for they doe grow ofttimes in firmenesse strength and stability though they doe not spread out they may grow in refinednesse that that which comes from them may bee more pure and lesse mixed with naturall corruption Pride Selfe-love and the like This is a temptation that old men are subject too especially in whom the heate of nature decayes who thinke withall that grace decayes But it is not so for ofttimes when grace is carried with the heate of nature it makes a greater shew being helpt by nature The demonstration but not the truth of grace is thus helpt Therfore this clause of the Promise is made good in old Christians they are every day more and more rooted firme stable and judicious and more able in those graces which belong to their place and condition Therefore they should not be discouraged though they be not carried with the streame and tide of nature help'd with that vigour that sometime was in them They grow in judiciousnesse mortifiednesse in heavenly-mindednesse and in ability to give good counsell to others This is well for we grow not in grace one way but divers waies not onely when wee grow in outward demonstration and in many fruits and actions but when wee grow in refinednesse and judiciousnesse as was said then wee are said to grow likewise Yet notwithstanding it should be the indeavour of all to grow what they can in grace when if they grow not so fast as others let them know that there are severall ages in Christ A young Christian cannot be so planted and so deepely rooted as another that is of a greater standing This should not discourage any seeing there are babes in Christ as well as strong men Therefore where there is truth of heart with indeavour to grow better and better and to use all meanes let no man be discouraged Remember alway this for a truth that we may grow and we ought to grow and the children of God ordinarily have growne more and more both in fruitfullnesse and stedfastnesse every way but not with a like growth in measure or time Therefore labour to make use of these Promises and not to favour our selves in an ungrowing

Psal 105.15 nor do my Prophets no harme Satan himself and all creatures in Heaven and in Earth have a prohibition to touch his vines no further then shall be for their good Will a man suffer men to come into his Orchard to break downe his vines he will not Surely though the sinnes of this nation be very great yet one thing ministreth hope God hath a great many vines under his shadow and protection many conscionable Magistrates Ministers and people of other professions Governours of families and the like which walke holily God will spare the vineyard even for the vines that beare fruit A notable place amongst others we have Cant. 2.15 Take us the Foxes and the little Foxes that spoile the vine for our vines have tender grapes There is in every Church not onely grosse Papists and forraigne enemies that would roote out all if it were in their power but subtill foxes also men that pride themselves in divelish pollicie to under-mine the Church and Children of God who whersoever they see vine or grapes they malice that both the meanes and grace wrought by the meanes is the object of their crueltie Subtile foxes they are who account it a great deale of glory to be accounted polliticke men to do mischiefe secretly and closely in the Church will God suffer these foxes no he will not Cant. 2.5 Take us the foxes the little foxes that destroy the vines God hath young growing vines so as he will not onely care for the great vines but for the tender vines also Christ hath a care of his Lambs as he said to Peter Joh. 21.15 lovest thou me c. Then feed my Lambes my little ones So Christ speakes in the Gospell of these little ones Mat. 18.10 I tell you of a truth that the Angels of these little ones behold the face of my Father c. And so he speakes in another place Isa 48.1 2. A bruised reed will he not breake and smoaking flaxe will he not quench untill he bring foorth judgment unto victorie So likewise he promiseth that he will carry the lambes in his bosome Isa 40.11 and gently lead them that are with young Vse 3 The next use shall be for incouragement unto weake ones should tender and weake Christians then be discouraged for whom God is so carefull surely no. Put case they bring forth but little fruite yet O destroy it not for a blessing is in it Therfore let us not be discouraged if wee be Gods vines which is knowne and discovered not by the abundance of fruit only but by the kind of our fruit also if it come from the Spirit of God and rellish of the Spirit though it be not in such plenty yet a vine is not a thorne a Christian is not to be discouraged though he bring not forth aboundance of fruit at the first There are different degrees and tempers of soyle and of ages in Christianity which is spoken to incourage those that are good and yet are discouraged because it is not with them as with some other Christians of their acquaintance Know that there is no set measure of grace necessary to salvation but truth God doth assigne us a measure of grace according to his good pleasure and according as he hath purposed to make us profitable to others in the use of meanes Those whom hee meanes to use for suffering or doing of great matters in the Church those he fits sutably for that he meanes to call them to others have not that aboundance of grace out of Gods wisdome who knowes best how to dispense his owne graces to his owne glory If we allow not our selves in our weaknesses but groane under them hate them and strive against them reaching towards perfection in this case our weaknesses shall not hurt our salvation but God will perfect his power in our weaknesse 2 Cor 12.9 So we see it is not the multitude of fruit but the sincerity of it if it be true that makes a Christian if there be truth of grace it will out and spread the branches it shall not alwayes be so with us Sincerity and indeavour to grow with a desire and thirst after growth makes a man a Christian Therefore as was said we must not be discouraged though our growth and spreading be not like others Every Christian hath his measure though every one be bound to goe further and further from faith to faith and grace to grace yet there is a blessing in a little and a promise also to him that useth it well To him that hath it shall be given Christ hath a care that the foxes doe not hurt the little tender grapes Mat. 13.12 let none therfore be discouraged for their non-proficiency in the wayes of God so as to goe backe and leave off he knowes best when and how to take away the bates snares and temptations that are set to catch them and discourage them Let God alone with his owne worke who is the great vinedresser doe thou thine owne worke attend upon good meanes waite upon God and then let the malice of the world and the Divell be what they will he will have a care of his vines and the more care the more young and tender they are c. These considerations may affect us not only to take good by the vine for our bodies but for our soules also and so the same thing may cherish both body and soule A Christian by grace hath an extracting vertue to draw holy uses out of every thing as the Holy Ghost here compares us to a vine to teach us these and the like things now unfolded The last thing promised is The sent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon This Lebanon was a mountanous place on the north side of Iudea wondrous fruitfull in all kind of trees in Cedars and goodly Vines so it did abound in spice and all goodly things Therefore to shew that a Christian should be the best of his ranke he fetches comparisons from the best things in nature The sent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon Now the Vine of Lebanon had a sweet sent in it both to draw to the liking and then to delight in the tast and taking thereof So it is with the graces of God in his children they carry as it were a sweet sent with them both to draw others to delight in and tast of the same things Quest. But how comes it to passe that Christians send forth so sweet a sent Answ Because they are in Christ in whom the oyntment and all sweetnesse is in fulnesse From him the Head first and from thence it is derived unto the members Psal 133.2 all who must partake of this ointment As it is said of the head of Aaron that that ointment which was powred on his head ran downe to his skirts and all his rich attire about So that sweetnesse in Christ is powred on the skirts all along upon