Light from heaven discovering the fountaine opened. Angels acclamations. Churches riches. 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.

Glory to God in the highest.

The Angels, those blessed and holy Spirits, they begin with that which is the end of all, It is Gods end, in all things his owne glory, he hath none above himselfe, whose glory to ayme at. And they wish, Glory to God in the highest Hea∣vens.

Indeed he is more glorified there, then any where in the world; it is the place where his Ma∣jestie most appeares, and the truth is, we cannot perfectly glorifie God, till we be in heaven, there is pure glory given to God in Heaven, there

is no corruption there in those perfect soules, there is perfect glory given to God in heaven. H••re upon earth, God is not glorified at all by many. The whole life of many, being nothing but a dishonouring of God, by abusing his ordi∣nances, trampling upon his Church and children, by slighting his word, and Sacraments, there is little honour given to God in the world, but on∣ly by a few whom he intends to glorifie for ever, and indeed if we will glorifie God here, we must raise our thoughts to heaven at that time, raise them above the world, to heaven, where we shall for ever glorifie him, where we shall joyne with the blessed Saints and Angels, and sing, holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts, &c. In the meane time, (let me adde this by the way) that in some sort we may glorifie God more on earth, then in heaven. It may seeme a Paradox, but it is true, that is thus, here upon earth we glorifie God in the middest of enemies, he hath no enemies in hea∣ven, they are all of one spirit; here upon earth, we live not onely among Devils, but among men led with the spirit of the Devill, where God is dishonoured; and if here we take Gods side, and the truth, and Gospels side, and stand for Gods cause, (in some sort) we honour God more here then we are capable to doe it in heaven, where there is no opposition. In this respect, let us be encouraged to glorifie God, what we can here; for if we begin to glorifie God here, it is a signe we are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 number that he intends to glori∣fie with him forever.

The verbe is not set downe here whether it should be, Glory is given to God, or whether by way of wishing, Let glory be given to God, or by way of prediction, or prophesie for the time to come, glory shall be to God, from hence to the end of the world, the verbe being wanting, all have a truth. For first, it cannot be a wish, unlesse it were a positive doctrinall truth, that all glory is due to God in the Incarnation of Christ, and be∣cause all glory is due to him, thereupon comes the ground of wishing, and of prayer, Let God be glorified, why? because it is due, if it were not a positive doctrinall truth, there could be no foun∣dation to raise a wish, or a prayer, for what is a prayer, but the turning of a promise or truth, into a prayer? and what is praise, but the turning of a truth into praise? so it is a doctrinall truth, First, that God is to be glorified especially in Christ, and in Christ, in this particular, in the Incarnation of Christ. And it is a wish for the time to come, let him be glorified, and a predi∣ction, God shall be glorified in the Church, hee shall alway have some to glorifie him for Christ, and especially for his Incarnation.

Notes

• Why they wish glory to God in hea∣ven.
• How we may glorifie God on earth more then in hea∣ven.