* LIGHT
FROM
HEAVEN
Discovering Fountaine Opened. Angels Acclamations, Churches Riches. kRich Povertie. Infoure Treatises.
BY
The late Learned and Reverend Divine,
Rich. Sibs,
Doctor in Divinitie, Master of Katherine Hall
in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher
at Grayes-Inne.
Published according to the Authors owne
appointment, subscribed with his hand ;
to prevent imperfect copies.
Amos 3. 7.
Surely the Lord God will doe nothing, but he revealeth
his secrets to his servants the Prophets.
London,
Printed by E. Purslow for N. Bourne, at the Royall
Exchange, and R. Hartford at the gilt Bible in
Queenes-head Alley in Pater-Noster-Row.
1638.
t THE
CHVRCHES RICHES
BY
CHRISTS POVERTY By
The late Learned and Reverend Divine.
RICHARD SIBBS,
D'. in Divinity, Master of Katherine-'RixW in
Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher at
GRAI ES-INNE.
Luke 9. 58.
The Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head
E p H E s . 2. 7.
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches
of his grace, ^'c.
LONDON,
Printed by R. Badger for N. Bourne at the Royall
Exchange, and R. Harford at the gilt Bible in
Queenes-head Alley in Pater No ster Row.
16 3 8.
TO THE EIGHT HONOURABLE
EOBEET, EARL OF WARWICK."
AND TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE LADY SUSANNA, COUNTESS OF WARWICK,
his pious consort.
Right Honourable,
There are two things common to man, whose nature is capable of honour : one is, an appetite of honour ; the other, a mistaking himself about the matter or way of honour. Ambition stks up the one, and ignorance causeth the other ; that swells, this poisons the heart of man. The first humour did so far transport some ancients, that they placed very felicity in honour, and made strange and unnatural adventures for the same. The second, as an e\al, made them to make that to be honour which is not ; and deny that to be honour which is honour indeed. It is no honour to be wicked ; nor yet a way to honour with God or good men ; and yet some men do ' glory in their shame,' Phil. iii. 19, accounting baseness itself to be their honour.
It is the highest honour, and indeed, nothing so truly ennobleth, to be truly gracious and godly ; and yet, with multitudes of men, religion and godliness are thought stains and blemishes of honour, ignobling greatness itself, which they shun as the greatest shame. The Scriptures make godliness the formal and intrinsecal cause and root of honour. Nay, it is and was the opinion of the most moderate philosophers, that virtue is the proper basis of honour ; and that it doth belong to virtue as a debt ; and so much as virtuous, so much honourable ; and though it did not make, yet it did dress a moral happiness. The honour of being virtuous is great to all ; most unto personages whose blood runs noble, and places are eminent. The world eyeth such most, and are willing to see if they will shine ; and
* Eobert Rich, second Earl of Warwick, and liig excellent CoiTntess, were ' fast friends' (Clarendon's words) of the Puritans. Clarendon, Neal, and indeed all the histories of the period, shew the important part the Earl played among his con- temporaries. His death in 1658 is one of the events enumerated by Clarendon as having darkened the ' latter days' of Cromwell. Besides the Peerages, consult Ross's Historical account of the Earls of Warwick, published by Hearne in 172Q, — G.
492 ' THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
ready to commend if they will be forward. When great ones are but in the common way of honouring God, which is merely formal and verbal, this is pleasing, and many times winning name and fome unto themselves. But when they are found upon the special way of honouring God, which is radical and vital, the heart being inwardly affected with the love and purpose, and the life full of the courses and discourses of godhness, this makes nobility itself glorious, and eminently to shine. And certain it is, that such shall have from God the honour of secret acceptation, special protection, external publication, and of eternal glorification, they being all heirs under blessing.
This honour, in all eminency, I wish unto your honours, by how much the more God hath already advanced and enlarged your names and families, not only in many outward, but also in many choice and spiritual respects. For your further help herein, I make myself bold to present you with certain sermons, heretofore preached by Dr Sibbes, a man whose piety and parts made him honourable living and dead. For me to commend the author unto your honour, were to make the world to judge him either a stranger unto you, or a man that had not ingratiated himself with you whilst he lived near unto you. I well knew that he had an honourable opinion of you both, and of yours ; and that maketh me not blush to pass these his own labours under your noble patronages. I know his works do and will sufficiently praise him ; and you that knew and loved him so well, shall, in vouchsafing to read over these ensuing sermons, find his spirit in them, and in a manner hear him, although dead, yet speaking unto you, Heb. xi. 4. Look upon the work with acceptance for the father's sake, and let the world know that he was a man so deservedly respected of you, that his learned labours shall profit you ; and you by them may be quick- ened in all the passages of your life, to honour that God who hath so much honoured you, which is the hearty desire of