PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 2
Richard Sibbes · 364,886 words · 367 reading sections
Section 241
And again, though they fall, yet they learn to stand fast by their falls, are gainers by their losses, and become stronger by their weaknesses. As tall cedars, the more the}^ are shaken by the winds, the more deeply they take rooting ; so Christians, the more storms and blasts they have, the more they are fastly rooted…
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Obj. Aye, but they have wit, and memory, and parts, &c. Yet they are but as the flower of the grass, perhaps better than ordinary grass, ' but the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth.' What continueth then ? Oh, the word of the Lord, and comfort and gi-ace by that word, ' endures for ever,' 1 Pet. i. 25, and makes u…
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will not receive bim, then hell must. Wliat a miserable thing is this, when we place and bottom ourselves upon things that will not last ! when our- selves shall outlast our foundation ! when a man shall live for ever, and that which he builds on is fading ! What extremity of folly is this, to buUd on riches, favour, g…
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Let us know, that we onght every day to labour to be more and more rooted. Do we know what times may befall us ? We have need to grow every day, to grow upwai'd, and in breadth and in depth. K we considered what times we may hve to, it should force us to gi-ow every way, especially in humility, that root and mother of …
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346 THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VIII. ifc for such a man to think of a change, when it is not a change for the better ? Here is wisdom. If we will be wise to purpose, let us be wise this way. [ Labour, in the first place, to prize God's favours, and to know how to come ' by them in the use of all means. Look to…
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' His branches shall spread.' When God enriches the soul with saving gi'ace, one shall grow ever}-- way and flourish abundantly, extending forth their goodness on every side largely to the knowledge and open view of others ; and then further, ' His beauty shall be as the olive-tree.' What is the beauty of the olive-…
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* That is, ' queries.' — G. HOSEA XIV. 6, 7.] THE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. 849 Therefore let us e\er\ one consider with ourselves, wherefore God hath set us in the church in our particular standings. "Wherein let us remember this, that howsoever God may endure barrenness out of the church, in want of means, yet he will …
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' His smell shall be as Lebanon.' Lebanon stood on the north side of Judea, and was a place abounding with goodly trees, and all sweet plants whatsoever, which cast a wondrous sweet scent and smell afar off ; as some countries abound so in sweet fruits and simples, as oranges, lemons and the like, that the fragrancy o…
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* The passao;e is in Ecclesiasticus xlix. 1. This is the first reference that vc have found in Sibbes to the Apocrypha. — En. 352 THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON YIII. Wicked men know this very v/ell, that the Hves, speeches, and courses of good men, for the most part, are fruitful beyond theirs. Therefore, what th…
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God, in Scripture, is often said to be a shadow, and his people to be under * the shadow of his wings,' Ps. xxxvi. 7. But God and the church are all one in this, for they that are under the church's shadow are under God's shadow ; for the church is Christ's, and Christ God's. Therefore to be under the church is to be u…
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I HOSEA XIV. 6, 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 355 soon as it is sown. So that grace at length which hath seemed to lie dead, after many years may sprout out. Monica, St Austin's mother, was a gra- cious woman whilst he was an untoward young man, as appeareth by his own Confessions, yet his mother having prayed much f…
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Use 2. Make we also this use, of trial. Art thou a good and a gracious governor indeed ? Then grace in thy heart is communicative. It will spread over ihj family. Thou wilt labour to make thy children and thy servants good ; to make all good that come under thy roof. Other things are not always communicative. Gold is a…
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ggg THE RETUBNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX. vigour is especially meant here, when he saith, * Those that dwell under his shadow shall return.' ' They shall revive as the corn.' Now, how doth the com revive ? Not to speak of that comparison that the godly are com, and not chaff, as the wicked are, who are driven to and…
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' They shall grow as the vine.' Howsoever, the church which is the mother church gi'ows before in the fonner words : the new church that comes under her shadow, shall grow in the same manner. ' They shall grow as the lily ; their branches shall spread ;' and more, it is said here, ' They shall grow as the \ine.' It is…
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5. And liirther, a vine is so weak that it must be propped and supported along, or else it will lie on the ground. Such is the estate of the church, which must have something to fence it and underprop it. God is the strength of the church. It is a wondrous weak plant. The children of God are wondrous weak, and exposed …
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362 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX. ment unto Yictory,' Isa. xlii. 1, 2. So likewise he promiseth, ' that he will carry the lambs in his bosom, and gently lead them that are with young,' Isa. xl. 11. Use 3. The next use shall be for encouragement unto weak ones. Should tender and weak Christians then be discour…
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Alls. Because they are in Christ, in whom the ointment and all sweet- ness is in fulness. From him the Head, fii'st, and from thence it is derived unto the members ; all who* must partake of this ointment. As it is said of the head of Aaron, that that ointment which was poured on his head ran down to his skirts, and al…
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Use 1. If this be so, it cuts ofl" a carnal exception of senseless persons, that think they can stop men's mouths with this, I cannot make so much show as you, but I hope I have as good a heart to God as you or as the best. But a Christian is a vine that brings forth gi-apes and much fruit, and casts a scent from him, …
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Now, who would not be in such an estate and condition as this, as to have title to all these gracious promises, for ' the dew ' of grace to fall upon him, ' to grow as lilies ' in height, and to spread as other plants do, to grow upwards and downwards, to be ' rooted as cedars ' and ' fruitful as vines ' ? The Spirit o…
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Now this eighth verse containeth a further gracious promise to Ephraim, upon his repenting and former resolutions. Ephraim said, ' Asshur shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses : neither will we say any more to the work of our hands. Ye are our gods.' Now what saith God here, repeating the words of Ephraim ? E…
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' Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ?' &c. Hence, in that Ephraim shall say thus, and say it with such vehemency of spirit and indignation, we may observe in general. There is excellent use of the affections^ God hath planted the afiections in us, to be as the wind, to carry the soul to and fr…
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VOL. u. A a 870 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON X. Qiiest. But how may we know, discern, and try this true hatred of sin ? Ans. First, true hatred is universal. He who hates ill truly, hates in universally in the whole kind. As we see in wicked men and devils, who hate God and all goodness. So on the contrary, tho…
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6. Again, a man may know that he truly hates sin, if he can endure ad- monition and reproof for sin. He that hates a venomous plant which troubleth the ground, will not be displeased if a man come and tell him that he hath such a plant in his gi-ound, and will help him to dig it up : surely he cannot be displeased with…
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Let every one therefore make use of it in their calling. Those that are entrusted with God's message, let them know that God's ambassadors are to be faithful in their message, for they sen^e a greater Lord than is upon the earth ; and let them shew their true hatred of ill, and the danger of sin, wheresoever they find …
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* Lips.— G. 374 THE EETTTRNING BACKSLIDEIl. [SeRMON X. ting, that all that love the Lord hate evil. All those that are near unto God, they hate all sin. The more they grow into communion with God, the more they grow in the hatred of all that is contraiy. Let us therefore never talk of love to God, and of piety, and s…
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Thus we ought to temper ourselves, and to work in ourselves as much as may be, a sound hatred to all sin, not only of the second table, but of the first also. The church here saith, ' "What have I any more to do with idols ? ' Now I hate all vain inventions. And think not, with Gallio, that this belongeth not to us ; i…
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HOSEA XrV. 8.] THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. 377 THE ELEVENTH SERMON. Ephraim shall say, What have I avy more to do with idols ? I have h^ard him, and observed him: I am like a green Jir- tree : from me is thy fruit found.— Ros. XIV. 8. We have heard at several times heretofore how graciously God deals with his people, …
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Now, idolatry is committed when either we set up false gods in place of the true God, or when we worship the true God in a false manner. Quest. But now another question may be moved, Whether the papists be idolaters or not ? For we live amongst many of them ; therefore we can- not be too wary of them. A71S. The answe…
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3. And in their equalising traditions, which are but the inventions of man's brain, \rith the Scriptures, they commit idolatry, in that they make their very church an idol. But what should we speak of their church, * B. Jewel, D. Rainolds, D. Fulk, D. Whitaker, D. Willet, Perkins, &c. See Note q. — G. 380 THE RETURNI…
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And therefore the commandments are set down in the highest pitch of the sin, to shew that we should avoid all the degrees under that which leads to so great a breach, and that we should hate all those steps and leadings to the sin itself. We should therefore beware of popish writers, and do with them as was done with t…
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Quest. What was the reason why the heathens worshipped Bacchus and Venus, such abominable gods ? Ans. They, to countenance their lusts and drunkenness, deify them : an abominable sin of the heathen, for which God gave them up to other sins. Doth not our sin come near theirs, when we make God to countenance our sin, an…
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8. Again, unconverted persons especially are prone to another idolatry, to set up their own trits and icills instead of God's. So as there is not a greater enemy to religion than our own conceits and wills, which will have a model of religion of our own brain, which must stand, let what will come of it. This is the fau…
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i'se 5. If then the case be thus, how shall ive come to refoim it, for a use of direction, so as to fly fi'om all idolatry, and to say with Ephraim, ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' First of all, do hut consider GocVs hatred unto all soiis of idolaters ; for he accounts such to hate him, and so according…
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HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 387 from all dregs and tainture of this cursed disposition, which the Jews were BO scourged for, and hardly* driven from. 4. Again, consider GocVs jjunishments in this kind. As we see, Rev. ix. 20, where the Turk is said to be raised up against all these idolaters, that would …
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Thus we see what to think of the temper of these men. In lighter matters indeed we may enjoy our own private opinions in some things. As St Paul saith in lesser things, ' If any man be otherwise minded, God shall reveal it unto him,' Phil. iii. 15. But when he comes to the point of justification by Christ in God's wors…
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The particular then here is, indi(/natiun and hatred. ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' So that the proper affection in God's chil- di-en, which should be conversant about that which is ill, and sinfully ill, is hatred and indignation. Here is hatred with indignation, the extent of the affection. Beas. 1.…
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Ayis. 2. And then again, avoid all parley and intercourse with sin in the first suggestions, or with wicked persons that may draw us away. Use sin ruggedly and harshly, as they do here. ' What have I to do with idols ? ' Do but entertain parley with it, and it is of such an insinuating nature, that it will encroach dai…
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Obs. That nothing is lost by renouncing idolatry and carnal confidence in any uvrldly thing. For God makes a supply in himself. * I will hear him and observe him.' Nothing is lost, for God will be true of his promise. ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be minis- tered …
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394 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XII. solve a new life, to cast away our idolatries, and former abominations ; pre- sently, ' God hears us, and observes us,' and is ready to meet us. There is an excellent place, even touching Ephraim himself. * I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself : Thou hast chastised …
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It is said, ' His ears are open to their prayers, and his eyes to see their afflictions.' Quest. But with what kind of eye doth God see the afflictions of his children ? Solution. He sees them with a tender, compassionate eye ; for he aboundeth in those affections which he hath put into a father and mother. There is …
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God will be as a fir-tree in regard of shadow to the passenger, and keep- ing ofl' of storms. The great God, and the good God, who is goodness itself, hath provided in this world not only good for us, but hath also promised de- fences against all annoyances. In the comparison itself, we will observe somewhat concerning…
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398 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XII. tliiDk often of these things. What a blessed thing it is to be in the state of a Christian, that hath alway a certain and sure protection, quiet, and rest in God ! And what a fearful thing is it to be as the Ahithophels of this world ! to be as Cain, Judas, or Saul ! who are …
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That this life of ours, whilst* we come to heaven, is subject to scorchings and many annoyances, and those both outwardly and inwardly, from ourselves and from others. First, for outward annoyances, how many of them is our poor life subject unto ! and for inward terror and boiling heat of conscience, when God in anger…
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HoSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 401 any man shelter us better ? There is no service to that of a king ; but is there any sendee to the King of kings, and Lord of lords ? Will he sufl'er his children to be abused in his own sight, or his followers disgraced ? Surely no. Therefore make this use of it, to get in…
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All other comforts in the world are but like Jonah's gourd ; for all other shadows yield only a shadow for a while, and then the sunshine or east wind is like a worm to nip them asunder. Never trust, then, or lean to such shadows as these be, of friends, riches, &c., which are shadows men ordinarily rely upon. I have s…
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' From me is thy fruit found.' That is, whatsoever is gi-aciously or comfortably good to us, in us, or ■ issues from us, is all from God. Hence first of all we observe for our in- struction, From a man's self comes nothing that is graciously good. Whatsoever is savingly good is altogether from God. * Without me,' sa…
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HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 405 itself, and brings forth nothing but weeds and thorns. Our hearts are Hke the barren wilderness, full of e^il, noisome lusts and affections. Therefore this serves to abase us, that we be not lifted up with any good in us ; for as that is altogether from God's Spirit, so lik…
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Use 3. This should teach and direct us also in all thhifjs to look up to God in all use of means. Lord, I may read, hear, and use helps and means long enough, to little or no purpose, unless thou give a blessing. Paul may plant and ApoUos may water, but if thou give not fruit from heaven, all is to no purpose, 1 Cor. i…
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Let us therefore cany this about us, as a principle of holy life, to know that our good is hid up in God, and not in the creature ; so that if all help were taken away, yet we have it immediately, purer and better in the foun- tain. What if there were not a creature in the world to help me ? What if all were against me…
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H09EA XIV. 8. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 409 tion which shall be comfortable to thee, though many like beasts go on, and look for no fruit from God. Use 1 . And let this also be an encouragement, to icalk uith God sincereli/ and %tpi-i()htlij in all times, not fearing any creature, or danger from the creature, becau…
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THE FOURTEENTH SERMON. Who is wise, and he shall understand these thinr/s ? pi-udent, and he shall know them / for the ways of the Lord arc equal, the just sJiall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. — Hos. XIV. 9. These words seal up the whole prophecy ; for the prophet, imme- diately before proph…
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412 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XIY. no purpose, unless he repeated laws, and fastened them upon the soul. So our Saviour Christ still when he had spoken excellent things, saith, ' Let him that hath ears to hear, hear,' Mat. xi. 15. So saith Jeremiah, ' Who is wise to consider these things ?' Jor. I'l. 12 ; and …
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' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent,' &c. But to come more particularly to the words, ' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ? ' The holy man of God here in his exhortation, naming wisdom, singUng out ' wise and prudent ' men, ' Who is wise, and who is prudent ?' he toucheth men u…
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Now, these be the two gi'aces that lead and guide a man's life. There must be first a general understanding and hght of the soul, and then there must be a particular light to apply this general to particulars. Prudence is, as it were, the steward of the soul, which dispenseth the light thereof, according to particular …
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* That is, ' over-confident.'— Ed. 416 . THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XIY. Now, when the understanding of a man is made wise by the Spirit of God, it will relish wisdom and prudence. For the Spirit of God, together with the Scripture, takes the scales off the eyes of the soul, subdues rebel- lious passions in th…
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Now, having shewed that only the wise and prudent can conceive and make a right use of these gi-eat things dehvered, he comes to shew and defend the equity of God's ways, how crooked soever they seem to flesh and blood. These things ought to be hearkened unto, because they ai'e the ways of God. ' The ways of the Lord …
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' The ways of the Lord are right.' Hence observe we in the first place, that the first thing we should look to in our conversation, must be to know this for a ground. Obs. That man is not a prescriber of his own way, and that no creature's •wHl is a ni^-'t HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 419 We must embrac…
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Use 3. Lastly, if every commandment be right, sure, and just, then when God commandeth do it, though the apparent danger be never so gi'eat, and thoxigh it be never so contrary to flesh and blood, pleasure, profit, or preferment, yet Imow it is finn and sure, and that our happiness stands in doing it, our misery in dis…
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(2.) Again, theij do things to a good end, the glory of God, and the good of man. For want hereof, the alms, prayers, and fasting of the scribes and Pharisees (because they did nothing out of love to God or man, but for vain- gloiy and carnal respects), are condemned of Christ. So some are brought in at the last day, s…
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' The just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein.' Thus far we are now come in the unfolding of this chapter, having shewed God's rich and incomparable mercies to miserable and penitent sinners ; how ready God is to embrace such, as this rebellious people named were, w4th all the arguments used …
988 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.