516 KING David's epitaph.
(d) P, 495. — ' In regard of tlic ills, we may say witli Faint Austin, " Lord, to what times arc we reserved." ' One of Iiis lamentations during his piissionatc controversies with tlio Donatists, and when Hippo was besieged by the Vandals, during which calamity this illustrious father expired.
(e) P. 498.—' As the civil law saitli, ivfringit obeclientiam,' &c. Sfill a law-wiaxm. (fj P. 507. — ' As Lactantius saith, " that is no religion that we leave behind
when we come to the church-door." ' Cf. for the thouf/ht, his Be Falsa Rclifjion& repeatedly. G-
LYDIA'S CONVERSION.
LYDIA'S CON^'ERSION.
NOTE.
Lydia's Conversion ' is the former of two sliort treatises pTiLlishod in a small volume (18mo) in 1G38. The general title-page will be found below.* Prefixed is Marshall's miniature portrait of Sibbcs. The ' Rescue from Death ; or, Return of Praise,' will be found in its place in Vol, VII. This little volume is exceedingly uncommon. G.
* THE
RICHES OP
M E R C I E.
In two Treatises ;
1. Lydia's Conversion.
2. A Rescue from Death.
' By the late learned, and reverend
Divine, Eicliard Sibbs, Doctor in Divinitie.
Published by the Authors owne
appoinbnent, and subscribed
with his oicne hand to prevent
imperfect Copies.
1 Sam. 2. G. The Lord killeth, and maketk alive ; hee bringeth downe to the Grave and bringeth tip.
London Printed by I, D. for Francis Eglesfeild, and are to be sold by him at the signc of the Ma- rigold in Paul's Church- yard. 1G38.
LYDIA'S CONVERSION.
And a certain ivoman, named Lijdia, a seller of inirpJe, of the city of TInjatira, that worshipped God, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things that were spoken of Paid. And when, dx. — Acts XVI. 14, 15.
The holy apostle, St Paul, a vessel of mercy, having found mercy himself of God, was a fit instrument to preach mercy to others.
Hereupon he was appointed to he a preacher to the Gentiles. Among the rest of the Gentiles, ho was called to preach to "tiiem of Macedonia, and it was by a vision, as we see in the former part of the chapter. Verse 9 : * A man of Macedonia,' appeared to Paul by night, and said, ' Come to Macedonia and help us.' Indeed, the state of the people of Macedonia called for help ; as now the state of many people doth. Though there be not such a vision as a man of Macedonia, yet their wretched estate, being under the kingdom of Satan, cries, ' Come and help us.' Though they do not cry with their mouths, j^et their estate cries. The apostle upon this vision, takes his joui'ney to come toward Macedonia ; and he staj^ed there a good while ; ' he abode certain days.'
Though God called him to Macedonia, yet God did not give him great encouragement for the present. This is the manner of God's carriage, not to discover at the present what he will do, but leads people ou by gentle encouragements ; and to humble them the more with Jittle fruit at the first. He ' abode there certain days,' without any great fruit. Afterwards he goes out to Philippi, the chief cit}^ of Macedonia ; and on the Sabbath day the people were gathered together, a company of women were resorted to- gether, and there he preached to them. As indeed holy communion is never without a blessing. They met together on a good day, the Sabbath ; and for a good end they were met together. Now Paul took the advantage of their meeting together on the Sabbath day. He cast his net, and he catcheth one with her family, namely, Lydia. The gospel was a sweet savour of salvation to her.
Hereupon there is a discourse of Lydia, a short story of Lydia, a story worthy to be thought of, which is in the words of my text.
' A certain woman named Ljxlia,' &c.
She is described, first, by her person and sex, ' a certain woman ;' by her name, ' Lydia ; ' by her calling, ' a seller of purple ; ' by her city,
520 l,ydia's conversion.
'Thyatira;' by her pious disposition, 'she worshipped God.' And then her conversion is set down by the cause of it : ' God opened her heart.' And what Ibllowed upon that opening of her heart : ' she attended to the things that were spoken by Paul ; ' and hkcwise, ' she was baptized with all her household. And then the sweet fruit that this conversion of her with all her household had, presently she shewed the love that she felt from God in converting her, to the blessed apostle and his company, ' She besought them, saying. If ye have judged mc faithful to the Lord, come to my house,' &c., which words 1 shall unfold as I come to them.
* And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple,' kc.
First, here is a description of her person, and sex, and name, and calling, and cit}', and disposition.
God takes notice of all the particulars of those that are his. He delights to speak of them. Those that have their names written in the book of life, he knows their names, and callings, and persons. They are jewels in his eyes. They are ' written on the palms of his hands,' Isa. xlix. IG. He takes more special notice of them than of the rest of the world. There- fore the apostle is very punctual in the description of all particulars.