A Breathing After God, Frontispiece – Table of contents
The reverend faithfull, and profitable Minister of Gods word Richard Sibbes, D: D: master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge & preacher of Grayes Inne, London.
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A BREATHING AFTER GOD. OR A CHRISTIANS DESIRE OF GODS PRESENCE.
BY The late Reverent and worthy Divine RICHARD SIBS, Doctor in Divinity, Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometime Preacher of Graies-Inne.
Psal 42 1.
As the Hart panteth after the water brooks; so panteth my soule after thee, O God.
Lam. 3. 56.
Hide not thne eare at my breathing.
LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for …. M. and are to be sold by Thomas Slater, at the Swan in Duck lane. 1639.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
MAN in this world (especially since his defection from God) standing at a distance from his happinesse in respect of full possession; it is not the least part of his blisse to be happy in expectation. Happinesse being by all men desireable, the desire of it is naturally ingrafted in every man, and is the Center of all the searchings of his heart and turnings of his life. But the most of men, like the men of Sodome grope and finde not the right dore: onelyonly to a true Christian (by a supernaturall light) is discovered both the right object, and the right way to felicitie. VponUpon this discovery, finding himselfe (while hee is here) a stranger to his happinesse hee desires to take leave of this sublunary condition, that he may enjoy him who is The desire of all Hag. 2. 7.Nations.
Now although God cast common blessings promiscuously upon good and bad, yet hee holds his best favours at a distance as Parents doe Cherries or Apples from their children, to whet their appetites the more after them. And indeede the best perfection of a Christian in his military condition is, in desire and expectation, and it is enough to him that, for that he hath Gods acceptation, who knowing whereof wee are made, and how unable to hold waite in the ballance of the Sanctuary, takes his best Gold with grains of allowance.
The soule of man is like a Cipher, which is valued by that which is set before it: if it weary it selfe in the desire of earthly things, like the Silke-worme, it finisheth its worke with its owne destruction: but if on things above, when this earthly Tabernacle is turned to Ashes, there shall result a glorious Phoenix for immortalitie.
There are no Cha racters better distinguishing a Christian, then those that are inward (hipocrisie like sale-worke may make a faire shew outward, an hypocrite may performe external works but cannot dissemble inward affections) and amongst them, none better discovers his temper, then the beating of the pulse of his desires, wch this worthy Author (who departed not without being much desired, and no lesse lamented hath most lively set forth in the ensuing Treatise, which a Christian holding as a Glasse before him, may discerne whether hee have life or no by these breathings.
For the obiect here propounded, what more desirable then the chiefe good? for the place, where can it bee more desired, then in his house, where his presence is manifested? what better end to bee in that house, then to behold God in the beauty of holinesse? what terme of happinesse better then for ever? This was the desire of the holy Prophet David, and that it may be thy desire, is the desire of
Thy Christian Friend,
H. I.
Imprimatur
Tho Wykes.
The Contents.
Difference of things in the world. page 20 The scope of a good heart in the use of Gods ordinances, what it is. 25
Observation 1.
The object of a Christians desire what, 23
Why said to be one thing 27
In respect of God, ibid
In respect of the soule. 28
In respect of grace. 30
Vse.
To shew the folly of worldly men in the neglect of theone thing necessary. 35
Thoughts and desires the the primitive issues of the heart. 37
How they are begotten 39
Obser. 2.
The spirit of God in the hearts of his children is effectuall in stirring up holy desires. 42
Trial of desires whether true
By their obiect. 44
By their fervencie. 45
By their constancie. ibid
By their rise 47
By their end. 48
By their endeavours. 54
Vse.
Exhortation to examine our desires. 51
Strong desires how to know when they are so. 57
Obser. 3,
Holy desires are to bee turned into prayers. 66
Reas. 1.
Thereby wee maintaine acquaintance with God. ibid
Reas. 2.
Thereby we manifest a good conscience. 69
Obser. 4.
Perseverance and importunity requisite in prayer. 70
God doth not presently answer our desires and why 78
Because he loues to heare us pray. ibid
To keepe us humble. ibid
To exercise our graces. 79
To make us prize his blessings. 80
To teach vsus to use them better when we enjoy them ibid
The having the spirit of prayer, better then the enjoyment of particular blessings. 81
Assurance before we pray to receiue what we pray for, no hinderance to prayer 84
Gods house what it is 91
Love of Gods children to good things constant. 99
Observa. 5.
God is beautiful in himself 117
In his Church. 118
Especially in Christ. 121
Christ most louely in his greatest abasement. 125
The Church beautifull.
In regard of the Angels 129
In regard of the ordinances. 13…
The word preached. 133
The sacraments. 1…8
Discipline. 141
Ioynt service of God. 143
In regard of the Evidences of Gods louelove. 146
Protection. 147
Effectuall calling. 148
Instification. 149
Sanctification. 150
Inward peace & joy. 152
The Church of God a Paradise. 157
Vse.
Exhortation to bee in louelove with the beauty of God and his house. 160
Carnall men see not this beauty and why. 163
True delight wherein it consists. 166
Happines of man what. 170
How to come to see the beauty of God. 172
Get spirituall life ibid
Beg the spirit of revelation. 173
Labour to see our owne deformity, 176
Consider Christs relations to us. 177
A continuall necessitie of the ordinances, 183
Private duties must give way to publique. 186
Papists their error in addition. 192
There hath alway beene a Church. 198
Marks of the true Church. 199
Abuse of things takes not away their use. 200
What estate they are in that are cast out of the Church. 202
Tryals of our love to the beauty of Gods house, 206
How to come to see the beauty of Gods house. 213
Vse Gods means. ibid
Come in faith. ibid
Compare the excellency of Gods house with other things. 215
Desire God to reveale him. selfe in his ordinances. 225
Motives to labour to see the beauty of God himselfe, and of his house. 228
It makes us glorious. 229
Our soules are made for these things. 231
Least God remoue his ordinances. 234