PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 1
Richard Sibbes · 358,611 words · 362 reading sections
Section 301
3. The more ive praise God, the more we should praise him, for it is th'e gift of God. When God sees we honour him, and frame ourselves that we may be such as may honour him, by emptying and disabling ourselves to be sufficient to do him any service, he will bestow more upon us. As men cast seed upon seed where there i…
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(i) P. 316. — ' Jailor bowels of pity.* See this subject treated with no common power and pathos from the text. Acts xvi. 33, ' He washed their stripes,' by Bishop Brownrig, who succeeded Sibbes as Master of Katherine Hall. (' Ser- mons,' folio, vol. i. pp. 273-291.) (y) p. 318. — ' Casting something unto these lions…
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VOL. I. Y 838 CHRIST IS BEST. determined whether Paul should live or die, but he would not without Paul's choice. That which is good, is not good to us, but upon choice and advice. When God hath given us abilities to discourse and examine things, he will have us make use of them, and therefore the apostle useth reaso…
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I desire to depart, and to he ivith Christ. To be with Christ that came from heaven to be here on earth with us, and descended that we should ascend; to be with him, that hath done and suf- fered so much for us ; to be with Chiist that delighted to be with us ; to be with Christ that emptied himself, and became of no …
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Beloved, there is none but a Christian that can desire death ; because it is the end of all comfort here, it is the end of aU callings and employments, of all sweetness whatsoever in this world. If another man that is not a Christian, desire heaven, he desires it not as heaven, or to be with Christ as Christ ; he desir…
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342 CHRIST IS BEST. and ivith a pen of iron, Jer. xvii. 1, who shall get it out? Nothing but gx'eat repentance and faith, applying the blood of Christ. It is no easy matter to get it off there, and to get the conscience at peace again ; and when conscience is not appeased, there will be aU clamours within. It will fea…
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The reason is, because God's manner of dispensation is, to convey all good to men, by the means of men like ourselves for the most part ; and this he doth to knit us into a holy communion one with another. Therefore it is needful that holy men should abide. In regard of the chiurch of God, their lives are very useful. …
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Obs. A second thing that I observe hence is this, Jioly and gracious men, that are led hij the Spirit of God, can deny themselves and their own best good for the church's benefit. They know that God hath appointed them as instra- ments to convey good to others ; and knowing this, they labour to come to Paul's spirit he…
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2. Get loving hearts. Love is fuU of invention, how shall I glorify God ? how shall I do good to others ? how shall I bring to heaven as many as I can ? Love is a sweet and boundless affection, full of holy devices. 3. Labour to have sufficiencij in our 2>laces, that you may have ability to do good. Oh, when these mee…
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This holy and blessed man whose funeral now we solemnize, was of St Paul's spiiit. He did desire to die, and beivith Christ; he had a desire while he Uved to take all opportunities to do good. I speak of that time when he lived, that is, when he was good, for we live no longer than we are good. Let us not reckon that l…
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9. For his more public carriage, by virt.ue of his place at Northampton, where he was recorder, he was called to be a member of the body-re- presentative in Parliament, wherein both his ability and spirit appeared to all that knew him. You may see by this what manner of man we have lost. He died before he was come to …
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350 CHRIST IS BEST. matter. But to die well is a matter of every day. Let us daily do some good that may help us at the time of our death. Every day by repentance pull out the sting of some sin, that so when death comes, we may have nothing to do but to die. To die well is the action of the whole life. He never dies w…
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4. And to strengthen his faith the more, he puts it forth in prayer. The fire of faith in his heart kindled into a flame of prayer (and that not in an ordinary manner, but in strong supplications), he cried out, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' To come to the particulars. Obs. 1. Christ was forsaken. V…
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Quest. How, then, was Christ forsaken ? Ans. 1. In regard of his present comfort and joy. He could not else have been a sacrifice ; for as we cannot sufier by way of conformity to Christ, unless there be some desertion, that we may know the bitterness of sin, no more could Christ have sufiered for our iniquities had t…
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Obj. But how could Christ take our sins upon him and not be defiled therewith ? Quest. He took not the stain of our sins, but the guilt of them. Now in guilt there is two things. 1 . A worthiness and desert of punishment. 2. An obligation and binding over thereunto. Christ took not the desert of punishment upon him…
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Again, in that Christ was forsaken ; and not only so, but endured the displeasure and immediate wrath of God, seizing upon his soul, and filling his heart with anguish at this time, we may learn hence. How to discern the ugliness of sin. 1. In tchat glass to look upon the ugly thing, sin, to make it more ugly unto us.…
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If Christ cried out thus, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' as being our surety for our sins, we may see what to conceive of sin, and of God the better. But above all things I desire you to see often in this glass, in this book of Christ crucified (it is an excellent book to study), the mercy of God and …
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5. But one main ground is, conformity to Christ. He sufiered for our sins, and God will conform the members in some measure to their head. Thougli Christ drank the cup of God's wrath to the bottom, yet we must sip and taste a little, that we may know how much we are beholden to Christ ; and there are few that come to h…
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2. The second is this, Christ was very sensible of it, even to complaint and expostulation, My God, My God, &c. Why should it be thus be- tween the Father and the Son ? between such a Father and such a Son, a kind, loving Father to his natural, obedient, and only Son ? The word is strong, beloved, he was not only forsa…
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(2.) Or fi'om hypocrisy, when they will not discover their grief, though their conscience be out of tune. (3.) Or else out of sUipid blockishness, which is worst of all, when they are not aft'ected with the signs of God's wrath. It is a good thing to be affected with the least token of God's displeasure, when we can g…
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Use. The use of it in a word is this, That God having stooped so low to poor creatures, to be a father and a friend to them, will suffer them familiarly (as there is a great deal of familiarity in the spirit of adoption), yet reverently, to lay open their griefs into his bosom, and reason the case with his Majesty, wit…
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Obj. But you will say, I may apprehend a lie ; perhaps God is not my God, and then it is presumption to say so. Ans. Whosoever casts himself upon God, out of the sense of sin, to be niled by God for the time to come, shall obtain mercy. Now, dost thou so ? doth thy conscience tell thee, I cast myself upon God for bett…
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I beseech you, even as you would have comfort from the fountain of comfort, that usually conveys all gi'ace and comfort to us by a spirit of prayer, labour to be much in communion with God in this blessed exercise, especially in troubles : ' Call upon me in the day of trouble,' Ps. 1. 15. The evil day is a day of praye…
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Christ's sufferings for man's sin. 369 should cast us into hell. What a stay is this for a distressed soul to make use of ! Beloved, the church of God, the mystical body of Christ, is thus forsaken in other countries, besides many particular humble, broken-hearted Chris- tians at home, who fuid no beams of God's love…
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(3.) The issue will be glorious; for the Spirit of glory will not only sup- port us with his presence, but rest still upon us. To other grounds of comfort, he addeth some in the words of my text, as, 1. First, that the church is God's house, and therefore he will have a care of it. 2. That he will do it in the fitte…
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THE church's visitation. 375 their desire is, that God may govern and rule their whole conversation ; they have no idol above God in their hearts. ilse 1. What a -wonderful mercy is this, that we are God's house ; that he will vouchsafe to dwell and take up his lodging in such defiled houses as our souls are. It is n…
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Obs. 2. That the house of God needs visiting and purging, and the reasons of it. But to proceed. Hence further we see that the house of God after some time will need visiting and purging, seeing it will soon gather soU. There will abuses and disorders creep into it, so that it will need refor- mation. And this the apos…
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3. The sins of the godly more heinous than others. The sins of God's house admit of a greater aggravation than the sins of others ; for, (1) they are committed against more light; (2) against more benefits and favours ; (3) their sins in a manner are sacrilege. What ! to make ' the temple of God a den of thieves,' to d…
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3. That now is the time of the church's affliction. More particularly, even now is the time of Jacob's trouble ; even now God hath put a cup into the church's hand, and it must go round. The sword hath a commission to de- vour, which is not yet called in. THE chuech's visitation. 379 Quest. But what be the more espec…
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Sign 5. Unfndtfulness threatenetli a judrimentiqjon a x>eo2ole. When God hath bestowed a gi-eat deal of cost and time, he looks we should answer his expectation in some measure. The fig-tree in the gospel had some respite given it, by reason of the prayers of the vine-dresser ; but afterward, when it brought forth no f…
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Note. Assure thyself thus much, thou canst have no more comfort in troubles and afflictions when they do come, than thou hast care to prevent them before they come ; answerable to our care in preventing now, will be our comfort then. Therefore if we would be hid in the day of God's wrath ; if we would have God to set …
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What is the glory of England? Take away the gospel, and what have we that other nations have not better than ourselves ? Alas, if we labour not to maintain truth, we may say with Eli's daughter, * The gloiy of God is departed from us,' 1 Sam. iv. 21. Sarah had her handmaid ; and so hath religion been attended with pro…
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Thus you see, though we have cause of fearing God's judgments, yet there is something to comfort us in the midst of all. God mingles our comforts and crosses together whilst we are here, both to keep us in awe of offending his Majesty, and to encourage us in well-doing. Securitatis custos timor. Therefore let us always…
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TOL. I. B b 886 THE ungodly's misery, same end ? All wicked men that delight in the company one of another here, are brethren in evil, and shall he like a company of tares, all cast into hell-fii'e together hereafter. It is pity they should be severed then that will not be severed now. Those men's courses, therefore,…
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Quest. But, what is it to obey the gospel ? Ans. To obey the gospel is to entertain the offers of it ; for indeed though the gospel command us to believe in the Son of God, yet withal it offers the very command unto us ; to believe in Christ, being in effect a command to receive him, which supposeth an act of giving a…
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Reason 2. Again, sins against the greatest light are most siifid. What makes sin out of measure sinful, but this, when it is committed against a great measure of light ? What makes a man fall foul ? It is not when he falls in a mist, or in a dark night, every one will pity him then ; alas, he wanted light ; but when he…
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Oh, say some, this concerns not me, I thank God there is mercy in Christ, and I hope for pardon, &c. Beloved, here is the bane of men's souls, they will be theii* own carvers, and take of the gospel what they list. Oh, BO much of Christ as concerns their own good they will have ; so much as concerns their pleasure and …
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Ana. It is true we cannot, no more than we can obey the law ; nay, it is harder to obey the gospel than to obey the law in a man's own strength ; for there are the seeds of the law in our nature, but there are none of the gospel. That is merely f supernatural. The promises are above nature to apprehend them ; therefore…
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THE ungodly' S mSEKY. 893 hearts dwell upon these tilings, and consider with yourselves how bitter you have found it to offend God, though now it be a time of mercy. 2. Secondly, consider how the gospel lays open Christ unto us ; ' This is his commandment, that we believe in the Lord Jesus,' 1 John iii. 23. He that c…
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THE DIFFICULTY OF SALVATION. SEEMON III. If the riqliteous scarcely he saved, ichere shall the wicked and ungodly ajJj^ear ? —1 Pet. IV. 18. What is meant here by righteousness, to wit, a man endued ivith evangelical righteousness. By * righteous' here, is meant that evangelical righteous- ness which we have in the…
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Use. Let this teach us thus much, that in all the changes and alterations which the faith of man is subject unto, he is sure of one thing : all the troubles, and all the enemies of the world shall not hinder his salvation. * If it be possible the elect should be deceived,' Mat. xxiv. 24 ; but it is not possible. 0 what…
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* ' Heaven upon earth' is the title of one of Tliomas Brooks's most Sibbes-Iike works.— G. t That is, ' a mark.'— G. 898 THE DIFFICULTY OF SALVATION. 5. Besides this, scandal makes it a hard matter to be saved; to see evil courses and evil persons flourish and countenanced in the world. Oh, it goes to the heart of Go…
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1. Beff the Spirit of Christ. You know the Holy Spirit is full of life and strength ; it is a Spirit of light and comfort and whatsover is good. The Spirit of God is like the wind ; as it is subtle in operation and invisible, so it is strong and mighty, it bears all before it. Oh ! therefore, get this blessed Spirit to…
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Now this question, Where shall the ungodly appear ? implies a strong denial, He shall be able to appear nowhere ; especially in these three times. 1. In the day of public calamity, when God's judgments are abroad in the world. The wicked are as chaff before the wind, as wax before the sun, as stubble before the fire. …
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Obj. But some carnal wretch will say, I thank God I never suffered in my life, but have enjoyed peace and prosperity, and my heart's content in everj-thing. Ans. In the best estate there u'ill be stiffering one rcay or other. Then, suspect thyself to be in a bad estate, for every true Christian suffers in one kind or …
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Use. I beseech you, therefore, considering all our sufferings are by the appointment and will of God, let us bring our souls to an holy resignation unto his Majesty, not looking so much to the grievance we are under as to the hand that sent it. We should with one eye consider the thing, with another eye the will of God…
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THE saint's hiding-place IN THE EVIL DAY. 405 for betraying the blessed cause and truth of Christ ? How can we expect God should own us another day, when we will not own him in his cause, and his members, to stand for them now ? Think on that speech of our Saviour, ' Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, or of my words in…
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Others there are, who, if once they come to suffer, presently fall to shift- ing and, plotting, how to get forth again by unlawful means ; oftentimes making shipwreck of a good conscience, and dishonom'ing the gospel of God. I beseech you consider these things. Every man would have Christ, and be religious, so long as …
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Ohj. But must we not commit our bodies and our estates to God, as well as our souls ? Ans. Yes, all we have ; for that is only well kept which God keeps ; but yet in time of suffering we must be at a pointf with these things. If God will have our liberty, if he will have our life and all, we must hate all for Christ's…
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shifts may shelter him, &c. ; and indeed the heart of man is so full of atheism, that it can never light upon the right object, to trust God alone, until it sees everything else fail, as being insufficient to support the soul, or to yield any solid comfort in times of extremity and distress. Quest. But why must we com…
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NOTES. (a) P. 403. — ' Lucida Intervalla.' This is the title of a very singular volume by Carkesse. 4to. 1679. (b) P. 405. — ' It is necessary we should he just ; it is not so necessary we should live.' The memorable rei)rimand of the man who, engaged in a disreputable Inisiness, and defending himself against the sar…
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And in every promise, single out that which best suiteth with thy present condition. If thou art in any great distress, think upon the almighty power of God. Lord, thou hast made me of nothing, and canst deliver me out of this estate. Behold, I % unto thee for succour, &c. If thou art in perplexity for want of directio…
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It is no small privilege for a Christian to have this free access to God in times of extremity. Be we what we can be, take us at our worst in regard of sin or misery, yet we are his creatm-es still. I am the clay, thou art the potter ; I am a sinful wretch, yet I am the workmanship of thy hands. 0 Lord, thou hast frame…
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THE saint's hiding-place IN THE EVIL DAY. 415 to be our own, and not before. It is the happiness of a Chi'istian that he is not his own, but that whether he live or die, he is the Lord's. Direction 2. In the second place, ue muat labour to find ourselves m covenant ivith God ; that is, to find him making (jood his j^…
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That carnal iwlicij hinders our safety. Let Christians therefore have no- thing to do with carnal shifts, and politic ends ; for they have a strong rock, and a sure hold to go to ; the Almighty is their shield. Beloved, God will be honoured by om- trusting of him, and those that wiU be wiser than God, and have other co…
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Beloved, a man can commit his soul with no more comfort to God than he hath care to please him. If a man laiows such a one hath his evidences and leases, and may hurt him when he list, how careful will he be of pro- voking or giving olfence to such a man ? Suppose we knew a man that had the keeping of a lion, or some c…
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I THE S.UNt's hiding-place IN THE EVIL DAY. 419 selves to walk as in the presence of the Almighty ! This is that which tho Scripture speaks of Enoch, Gen. v. 24, and the rest, who are said to have walked with God ; that is, to have committed themselves and their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator. Ohj. Of tcicke…
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Again, God seems for a time indeed to neglect his children when they commit themselves unto him, but mark the issue ; ' all the works of God are beautiful in their season,' Eccl. iii. 11. He suffers them it may be, a long time to be in danger and trouble, till he hath perfected the w'ork of mortification in their heart…
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There be two afiections vrhich mightily disturb the peace of Christians. 1. Sinful cares; and 2. sinful fears. To both which we have remedies prescribed in the Scripture. 1. ' Fear not, little flock,' saith Christ, 'for it is your Father's will to give you a kingdom,' Luke xii. 32 ; as if he had said, Will not he that …
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THE saint's hiding-place IN THE EVIL DAY. 123 ward, yet rely on him still. Hath he not given his Son to us, and will he not give heaven also ? Why do we limit the Holy One of Israel, and not cast ourselves upon him, except he will covenant to deal thus and thus with us ? A true Christian hath his eye always heavenwar…
1,011 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1862); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.