Light from Heaven, Title page – Dedication
LIGHT FROM HEAVEN, Discovering
The FOUNTAINE OPENED.
The ANGELS ACCLAMATIONS.
The CHURCHES RICHES.
The RICH POVERTIE.
In foure 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. Harford, at the gilt Bible in Queenes head Alley in Pater-Noster-Row. 1638.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, ROBERT, Earle of WARWICK: And to the Right Honourable, the Lady SVS ANNA, Countesse of WARWICKE; 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 himselfe about the matter or way of Honour: Ambition stirres up the one, and Ignorance causeth the other; that swels, this poysons the heart of man. The first Humour did so farre transport some Ancients, that they placed very Felicitie in Honour, and made strange and unnaturall Adventures for the same. The second, as an Evill, made them to make that to be Honour, which is not; and denie 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 doe glory in their shame, accounting Besenesse it selfe 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 Godlinesse are thought staines and blemishes of Honour, ignobling Greatnesse it selfe, which they shun, as the greatest shame. The Scriptures make Godlinesse the formall and intrinsecall Cause, and Root of Honour: Nay, it is and was the opinion of the most moderate Philosophers, That Vertue is the proper Basis of Honour; and that it doth belong to Vertue, as a Debt; and so much as vertuous, so much honourable: and though it did not make, yet it did dresse a Morall happinesse. The Honour of being vertuous, is great to all; most, unto Personages whose bloud runnes Noble, and Places are eminent: the World eyeth such most, and are willing to see, if they will shine; and readie to commend, if they will be forward. When great ones are but in the common way of honouring God, which is meerely formall, and verball; this is pleasing, and many times winning name and fame unto themselves: But, when they are found upon the speciall way of honouring God, which is radicall, and vitall, the heart being inwardly affected with the love and purpose, and the life full of the courses and discourses of Godlinesse; this makes Nobilitie it selfe glorious, and eminently to shine: And certaine it is, that such shall have from God the Honour of secret Acceptation, speciall Protection, externall Publication, and of eternall Glorification; they being all Heires 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 onelyonly in many outward, but also in many choise and spirituall respects For your further helpe herein, I make my selfe bold to present you with certaine Sermons, heretofore preached by D. Sibbs; a man whose pi…ty and parts made him Honourable, living and dead. For mee to commend the Author unto your Honours, were to make the World to judge him either a stranger unto you, or a man that had not ingratiated himselfe with you, whilest hee lived neere unto you: I well knew, that he had an Honourable opinion of you both, and of yours; and that maketh me not blush, to passe these his owne Labours under your Noble Patron…ges: I know his wo…kes doe and will sufficiently prayse him; and You that knew and loved him so well, shall (in vouchsafing to read over these ensuing Sermons) finde his Spirit in them, and in a manner, heare him (although dead) yet speaking unto you. Looke upon the Worke with acceptance, for the Fathers 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 quickned in all the passages of your life, to Honour that God who hath so much Honoured you: which is the heartie desire of
Your Honours to be commanded, IOHN SEDEWICK.