XX ' Exceeding' not in B, C— G.
i§ ' All his ways to his' in B, C. — G.
II II ' To remember it' not in B, C. — G.
122 judgment's eeason.
to be a father ; his dealings to us, that they are fatherly corrections. Let not Satan wrin^ these comforts out of our souls But let us honour God by trusting hini in life and death, and say with Job ' Though he kil me, yet will I trust in him,' Job xiii. 15. So sweet and po^^;erful is the. death of Christ, that it turns all things, even the bitterest, to the greatest good. But this may be sufficient by the blessing of God's Spirit.
YEA AND AMEN;
OB,
PRECIOUS PROMISES AND PRIVILEGES.
VOL. IV.
YEA AND AMEN ; OK, PEECIOUS PROMISES AND PRIYILEGES.
NOTE.
' Tea and Amen ' forms a moiety of a little volume, -wliich consists of it and a kindred but independent treatise. The title-page is given below.* The ' Privi- leges ' ■will appear in its proper place. ' Yea and Amen,' being based upon a passage in the Commentary which fills our third volume, has unavoidable repetitions, but of such a kind as rather to excite interest than weary. The illustrations are multi- plied, and new phases of the ' precious promises ' developed ; while the language is unusually compact. Indeed ' Yea and Amen,' for insight into the ' mind of the Spirit,' and of the sorrowful and despondent believer, and tenderness of consolation, and pathetic pleading, must take its place beside ' The Bruised Keed.' G,
* TEA AND AMEN :
OR
PEETIOUS PROMISES,
AND
PRIVILEDGES.
Spiritually unfolded in their Nature and Use.
Driving at the assurance & establishing of weak Believers.
By R. Sibbs, D.D. master of Kath- erine Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher of Grayes-inne London.
Reviewed by himselie in his life time, & since perused by T. G, & P. N.
London,
Printed by R. Bishop for R. Dawlman,
& are to be sold by Humphrey Mosley
at the Princes Armes in Pauls
Church-yard. 1638.
YEA AND AMEN;
OR,
PEECIOUS PEOMISES LAID OPEN OUT OF 2 COE. I. 19-^
But as God is true, our tvord toicards you ivas not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, icho ivas 2^reached amonfj you by iis, n'as not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God are in him yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
The blessed apostle, that he might have the bettei' place in the hearts of his hearers, endeavours here with all diligence to wipe off any imputation which they might have against him ; that so his doctrine might come home to their souls, and have the freer access to work upon their consciences.
We have therefore in these w^ords St Paul's apology for not coming unto the Corinthians, according to his promise. Wherein he allegeth that it was not from any inconstancy in him, but indeed from corruption in manners among them : ver. 23, ' I call God to record, that to spare you I came not.' The apostle as a man, and as a holy man, might promise many things common to this life, and might lawfully vary afterwards upon the appearance of real impediments.
But the things which he promiseth, and speaks of as an apostle, they admit of no such uncertainty. Therefore his care is to decline* all thoughts of wavering therein, and to maintain the credit of the gospel, which he had taught, to the uttermost ; knowing well how ready * false teachers ' would be to persuade the people that Paul was as light in his preaching as he was in keeping his word with them. Therefoi'e ' our word is true, as God is true,' saith he.
There is the same ground of the certainty of evangelical truths, as there is of God himself. ' Jesus Christ,' whom I preached among you, was not ' yea and nay,' saith the apostle, but ' yesterday and to-day, and the same for ever.' Whence may be observed :
Doct. 1. That the object of jweaching note in the time of the gospel, is especially Jesus Christ. This is the rock upon which the church is built. Christ should be the subject matter of our teaching, in his nature, offices, and benefits ; in the duties which we owe to him, and the instrument whereby we receive all from him, which is faith. * That is, ' repudiate.' — G.
IIG YEA AND AMEN ; OR,
If WO preach the law, and discover men's corruption, it is but to make way for the gospel's freer passage into their souls. And if we press holy duties, it is to make you walk worthy of the Lord Jesus. All teaching is reductive to the gospel of Christ, either to make way, as John l>aptist did, to level all proud thoughts, and make us stoop to him, or to make us walk worthy of the grace we receive from him.
The bread of life must be broken ; the sacrifice must be anatomised and laid open ; the riches of Christ, even his ' unsearchable riches,' must be unfolded. ' The Son of God,' must be preached to all ; and therefore God, who hath appointed us to be saved by Christ, hath also ordained preaching, to lay open the Lord Jesus, with the heavenly treasures of his grace and glory. But to go forward.