PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 2
Richard Sibbes · 364,886 words · 367 reading sections
Section 181
' 0 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou ha:.t fallen by thine iniquity.' Every word hath his weight, and, in a manner, is an argument to en- force this returning. '0 Israel!' Israel, we know, 1, is a word of covenant. Jacob was Israel, a prince and wrestler with God, as they also ought to be. There- fore h…
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he will create new helps, Isa. iv. 5. Wherefore, in all things it is host to begin with God. ' The third general point is this, that Of all spiritual means, the best is to return to the Lord. In this returning, 1. There vnist be a stop. Those who have run on in evil ways must first stop their lewd coui'ses. For natu…
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' Even unto the Lord thy God.' It is not enough to make a stop, and forbear the 2^^'<^ctising of our former sins ; but tve must come home, even unto the Lord our God, to be pardoned and healed of him. The prodigal son had been never a whit the better to see his sin and misery, and to be grieved for his wicked life pa…
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Thirdly, Hence we learn, since the cause of every man's miseiy is his own sin, that therefore all the jJOiver of the world, and of hell, cannot keep a man in misery, nor hinder him from comfort and happiness, if he iiill part with his sins by true and unfeigned repentance. As we know, Manasseh, as soon as he put away s…
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HOSEA XrV. 1, 2.] THE EETUBNING BACKSLIDER. 259 and in the battle, being encompassed with enemies, yet had words with him ready, and after prayer found deliverance, 1 Kings xxii. 32. Elijah, likewise, after a great drowth and famine, when rain had been three years wanting, and all in a manner out of frame for a long t…
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* Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord.' Ohj. What need God words, he knows our hearts before we speak unto him ? Ans. It is true : God needs no words, but we do, to stir up our heai'ts and affections ; and because he will have us take shame unto ourselves, having given us our tongues as an instrument of glori…
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* Take away iniquity,' and the train of all which it draws after it — judgments. * Take away iniquity,' that is, forgive the sin, and overcome the power of it by sanctifying grace, and remit the judgments attending it. ' Take it away.' That is, take away the guilt of it utterly by pardon, and the remainders thereof b…
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Quest. But may some say. How shall I know whether or no my sins ba forgiven ? 1, By something that goes before. 2. By something which follows after. Ans. There is somewhat which goes before, viz.: — First, an humble and hearty confession, as, ' If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,…
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* And do good to us.' For so it is in the original, + but it is all one, ' Eeceive us graciously, and do good to us.' All the goodness we have from God, it is out of his grace, from his free grace and goodness. AH grace, every little thing from God is gi-ace. As we say of favours received of * That is, the state-priso…
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And it extends its limits likewise to outward prosperity, this desire of doing good. Let us have happy days ! Sweeten our pilgrimage here ! Let our profession of reUgion be comfortable ! Do not lay more crosses upon us than thou wilt give us strength to bear ! Do good to us every way ! But mark the wisdom of the Holy G…
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I beseech you, therefore, let us take heed how we break or walk loosely with God, seeing we can have no further comfort of any good thing we enjoy, than we are careful to keep and maintain our peace and communion with him at all times. And when we run into arrearages with God, then be sure we he not in sin, but say, ' …
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1. It is good thus to vow, if it were but to excite and qidchen our dulness and fonicij'ulness of our general vow ; to put us in mind of our duty, the . more to oblige us to God and refresh oui* memories. This bond, that having promised, now I must do it, provokes the soul to it. As it helps the memory, so it quickens …
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3. And then when we believe in Christ, we ofier and sacrifice ourselves to God ; in which respect we must, as it were, be killed ere we be ofiiered. For we may not ofier ourselves as we are in our lusts, but as mortified and killed by repentance. Then we ofier ourselves to God as a reasonable and living sacrifice, when…
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And then again, besides this, ' the calves of om- lips ' carries us to work. The oral thanksgiving must be justified by our works and deeds ; or else our actions will give our tongue the he, that we praise him w'ith the one, but deny him in the other. This is a solecism, as if one should look to the earth, and cry, 0 y…
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HOSKA XIV. 2.] THE KETUENING BACKSLIDEK. 273 and our sitting there, could disappoint us thereof, or unsettle us, it may as well put Christ out of heaven, for we sit with him. If we yield to the un- comfortable popish doctrine of doubting, we cannot be heartily thankful for blessings ; for still there will rise in the …
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I gave you also some directions how to praise God, and to stir up your- selves to this most excellent duty, which I will not insist on now, but add a little unto that I then delivered, which is, that u-e must ivatch all advantages of praising God from our dispositions. ' Is any merry? let him sing,' saith James, v. 13.…
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5. And lastly, if we be much in praising God, ice shall be much in joy, which easeth misery. For a man can never be miserable that can be joy- ful ; and a man is always joyful when he is thankful. When one is joyM and cheerful, what misery can lie upon him ? Therefore, it is a wondi'ous help in misery to stir up the he…
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2. That the creature is insufiicient and unable to yield us this prop to uphold our confidence. 3. That God's people, when they are endowed with light supernatural to discern and be convinced hereof, are of that mind to say, ' Asshm' shall not save us.' But, to make way to these things, we must first observe two thin…
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Doct. That naturalbj ice are apt and prone to confidence in outward helps and jjresent things. This came to our nature from the first fall. What was our fall at first ? A turning from the all-sufficient, unchangeable God, to the creature. If I should describe sin, it is nothing but a turning from God to one creature o…
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1. He is but a creature. 2. He is an enemy. 280 THE BETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON HL 3. He is an idolater. So that, take him in all these three relations, he is not to he trusted. 1. He is a creature. What is a creature ? Nothing, as it were. Saith the prophet, ' All creatures before him are as nothing, and as a v…
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* The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but victory is of the Lord,' Prov. xxi. 31. How oft have you in the Psalms that proud warlike creature disparaged, because naturally men are more bewitched with that than with any other creature. If they have store of horses, then they think they are strong. Therefore…
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Quest. How shall we know whether we exceed in this confidence in the crea- ture or not ? Sol. 1. We may know it by adventuring on ill courses and causes, thinking to bear them out with Asshur and with horses. But all the mercenary sol- diers in the world, and all the horses at home and abroad, what can they do when Go…
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Let us therefore take heed of carnal confidence. You have a number who love to sleep in a whole skin, and will be siu-e to take the safest courses, as they think, not consulting with God, but with ' flesh and blood.' It might be instanced in stories of former times, how God hath crossed emperors, and great men in this …
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286 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON IV. lives, being moderately careful, as Christians should, without tempting God's providence, using rightly all civil supports and helps seasonably, and to the best advantage ; for, as was said, the carelessness herein for defence may prove as dangerous and fatal to a State, as th…
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Now idolatry is two ways committed, in the false, hollow, and deceitful heart of man : either, 1. By attributing to the creature that which is proper to God only, in- vesting it with God's properties ; or, 2. By worshipping the true God in a false manner. 1. So that, in ihe first place, idolatry is to invest the cre…
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I HOSEA XIV. 3.] THE RETXTRNING BACKSLIDEB. 289 the means ; who, instead of their blindness, trained them up in more knowledge, by forcing them to use the means for which, when God should open their eyes, they might bless God another day. But this point of gross idolatry, so largely handled in books, is only touched …
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Use. Therefore make this use of it, not to be discouraged when God doth confound any carnal plot or policy of ours, as to think that God hates either a nation or a person when they have ill success in plots and projects which are not good. Nay, it is a sign rather that God intends good, if they make a right use it. God…
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292 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IV, people, you think to jumble God's worship and that of heathens together ; ' you cannot serve God ' thus. So a man may say to those who look Eomewards, for worldly ends, and yet will be Protestants, You cannot serve God ; you cannot be sound Christians, halting thus betwixt bot…
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1. It supposeth &7H. So there is a^w/Y/o/f/;;^ ?»e/-c^ for that. Or, 2. Miscri/ ; thai is, a, deliveriiig mercy. Or, 3. Defect or icant in the creature, which is, supplying mercy. "Wheresoever mercy is conversant, it is usually about one of these three, either sin, or misery, or defects and wants ; that is, to perso…
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Use 1. First of all, to take notice of this most excellent attribute of God, and to make use of it upon all occasions at our most need, then to present to om' souls God thus described and set out by his ovm Spirit, to be ' he that comforteth the abject,' and sheweth mercy to "the fatherless and op- pressed. This we sho…
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* That is, ' without expedients.' — G. t That is, ' wise.' — G. J That is, ' judgments, trials.' — G. 296 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON IV4 God, as Esther did, ' If I perish, I perish,' Esther iv. 16. She meant, ' If I perish, I shall not perish.' Such have a better condition in the love and favour of God than t…
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Use 5. Again, we should use this as a plea against dejectedness at the hour of death, in regard of those we leave behind us, not to be troubled what shall become of them, when we are to jdeld up our souls to God ; but know that he hath undertaken to be ' the Father of the fatherless, and of the widow.' Therefore, for s…
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HOSEA XIY. 4. J THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. 299 angels and creatures for his servants, Heb. i. 14, for wliose sake ' all things must needs work together for good ? ' Rom. viii. 28. TBE FIFTH SERMON. I will heal their hackslidiyxg , I will love them freely : for mine anger is turned away from them. — Hos. XIV. 4. The …
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Reason. The reason is strong, because they are the motions of his own Spirit, which he stirs up in us. For he dictates this prayer unto them, 'Take with you words,' &c., 'and say unto the Lord, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.' So that, where God stirs up holy desires by his Spirit, he will answer exa…
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' I will heal,' &c. The healing meant here is especially in the pardon of their sins, answerable to their desires in justification. And there is a heal- ing also ia sanctification by the Spirit. When God takes away the venom from the wound, then God cures in sanctification. Both are meant, but especially the first. In …
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And, in regard of the effects, sin is like a disease. Diseases, if they be neglected, breed death itself, and become incurable. So it is with the dis- eases and sins of the soul. Neglect them, and the best end of them will be despair in this world. Whereupon we may have advantage to fly unto the mercy of God in Christ.…
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Use 1. If this be so, then, in the first place, let us know and consider, that no man tcho lives in sins imrepented of and uncured, is to be envied, be they never so rjreat. Who will envy a man that hath a rotten body, covered over with glorious attire ? when every man knows that he carries a rotten disease about him ;…
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VOL. u. u 806 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. ( SeEMON V. being removed and turned from things, then they are no more judgments. What cared Paul for imprisonment, when he knew God's wrath accompanied not the stocks? Acts xvi. 19, seq. Let wrath be taken from the suifering, that the soul be sound, then it is no matter what …
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Let us, therefore, be wise for afterwards, hear, read, lay up, and medi- tate for the time to come. For times will come, if we belong to God, that nothing will content or pacify' the soul but the infinite worth and merit of an infinite and free mercy apprehended in the face of Jesus Christ. When our sins are set in ord…
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Therefore let us the more build upon this truth, which is indeed the sum of all godliness. For what is the gospel but the triumph of mercy ? Do but consider the scope of God in the new covenant, whereof the sacra- ment is a seal, which is only to shew forth the exaltation of the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ, …
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Because it takes away the interposing cloud. God is gracious in him- self. Pardon of sin removes the cloud betwixt God's gracious face and the soul. Naturally, God is a spring of mercy ; but our sins stop the spring. But when sin is pardoned, the stop is taken away, and the spring runs amain. God is not merciful as a f…
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Quest. But you ask, How shall I know that God hath healed my soul iu regard of the forgiveness of sins '? 312 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDEK. [SeEMON V. Ans. The answer is, If, together with pardon of mi, he heal sin. For God, when he takes away the venom of a wovmd that endangers death, the deadly disease, he takes away a…
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Quest. Whence, then, comes a calm in a cai'nal person ? A?is. From ignorance and deadness of conscience, or fi'om diversion. As a sick man, when he talks with another man that is his fiiend, his mind is diverted that he feeleth not his sickness all the while, so wicked men, either their consciences are seared, and the…
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Now the way to have it cured, both in the pardon and likewise in sanc- tification, we have it in the context. "What doth God say ? ' I will heal their backsliding,' &c. After they had searched their hearts, and there- upon found iniquit}^, and then prayed, ' Take away all iniquity ;' after they had desired a divorce fr…
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THE SIXTH SERMON. I will love them freely : for mine anger is turned away. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his root as Lebanon. — Hos. XIV. 4, 5. It was a good speech of St Austin, * Those that are to petition great per- sons, they will obtain some who are skilful, to frame…
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' I will love them freely.' That which, first of all, we observe hence is thus much, that God loves his peo])le freely. So saith the apostle, * God commendcth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ; much more being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him,' R…
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Use 5. And let it likewise breed conjideiice in ns to God, in all our miseries, both for pardon of sin, help in distress, and comfort in sorrows, because he ' loves us freely,' and did love us whilst w-e were enemies. Make, therefore, upon all occasions, the apostle's use of it. ' For if, when we were enemies, we were …
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Use 1. This should teach us, in the first place, to be humbled, in that we are so miserable, naughty servants, doing so little work, nay, nothing as we HOSEA XIV. 4, 5.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 321 should, yet should have so good wages. But * God loves us freely,' &c. It should rather humble us the more than puff u…
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The truth is, God is angry with nothing else but with sin, which is the only object of his anger. That which foolish persons make a trifle and sport of, swearing, filthy speaking, and lying, is the object of God's anger, Ps. xiv. 1. For this offence of sin he did not spare the angels of heaven, 2 Pet. ii. 4, but tumble…
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That God will turn away his anger xipon repentance. Wben there is this course taken, formerly mentioned, to turn unto the Lord and to sue for pardon, to vow reformation, ' Asshur shall not save us,' and a thorough reformation of the particular sin ; and when there is wrought in the heart faith to rely on God's mercy, …
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Quest. But it may be said. How is God's anger tm-ned away from his children, when they feel it ofttimes after in the course of their lives ? Ans. The answer is, that there is a double anger of God, whereby we must judge of things, for either it is, 1. Vindicative; or, 2. Fatherly anger. God, ofter our first conversi…
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Remember, when we are to deal with God, that he is the great Mover of all things; who, if he be angr\", can overturn all things, and cross us in all things ; and can also heal us of all our diseases. But what must we do if we would be healed ? We must take the course prescribed here, ' Take unto us words ;' humble ours…
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1. You have set down the cause of all, which follows. God by his gracious Spirit will be ' as the dew unto Israel.' 2. And then upon that, the prosperous success this dew of God's Spirit hath in them, ' They shall grow as the lily.' Obj. 1. Aye, but the lily grows, but hath no stability. Eveiything that grows is not …
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And maik again, in the next place, hew the Holy Ghost fetcheth here this comfort from things that are most excellent in their kind. ' They shall grow as the hly,' that grows fiiirly and speedily ; ' and they shall take root as Lebanon.' To shew that a Christian should be the excellent in his kind, he compares biTn in h…
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Quest. How will God be as the dew to Israel ? Alls. This is especially meant of, and perfoiTned to, the church under the New Testament, especially next unto Christ's time, when the dew of grace fell in gi'eatest abundance upon the chui'ch. The comfortable, sanctifying, fruitful grace of God is compared to dew in many …
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(2.) And the soul is not only cooled and refreshed, but it is also sweetened HoSEA XrV. 5, 6.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 833 and made fruitful with comfort to the soul. If we were to see a man in tbc pangs of conscience, stung with fieiy temptations, as with so many fierv' sei^pents and poisoned darts, which drink up…
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Use 1. Therefore, lest we deceive om-selves, let this be an use of trial from the order, that if tee find not grace wrought in our natures to restrain sin, and alter our former lewd courses, our sins are not yet forgiven. For, where- soever God takes away sin, and ' loves freely,' there also he gives the best finiits o…
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330 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON YII. home. Therefore, let such an use be made of it generally, as God, and not other foreign helps, may especially be trusted in : for it is the only way to destruction, to let God alone, and to trust to this body and that body. For in this case, many times, God makes those we tru…
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Use 1. Therefore, we should make this use of all. Labour that the dew of God may prove the dew of grace, that God would make us lilies. If we would be beautiful and glorious, have a lustre upon us, and be as much be- yond others as pearls are beyond common stones, and as lilies are better than thorns and briers, let us…
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HOSEA XIV. 5, G.J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 389 more diligent and careful, and comfort ns in the use of means, Imowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. xv. 58. Now, Lord, I know I shall not lose my labour in hearing, in receiving of the sacra- ment, in the communion of saints, and use of sancti…
964 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.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.