PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 3
Richard Sibbes · 388,516 words · 401 reading sections
Section 181
This will make us look God, who is the Judge, in the face. It gives us not title to heaven, for that is only by Christ ; but it is a qualification required of us in the gospel. Nothing is ours but what we do in truth. And again, consider that it will comfort us against Satan at the hour of death. When Satan shall temp…
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To add one thing more. As there is an order of other graces ; so there is an order in this sincerity which we should labour for. There is this order to be kept. 1. ]Ve must dig deep. We must lay a sincere foundation. What is that ? A deep search into our own hearts and ways by sound humiliation. We say of digestions, …
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2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VEU. 12, 253 cerity, you may see here then that all the frame, all the passages of his life were good. This makes good that which I touched before, which hath its proper place here, that Sincerity extends itself to all the frame of a mans life. He that is sincere, is sincere in all places, and…
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What is the reason ? Picafion. The reason is, that a true Christian hath a spirit in him above the world. As St John saith, ' The Spirit that is in you is stronger than he that is in the world,' 1 John iv. 4. The child of God hath a spirit in him, a new nature, that sets him in a rank above the world. Christians are a…
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As we say, the planets have one course whereby they are carried with the fii'st mover every twenty-four hours, from east to west, as the sun is, whereby he makes the day. But the sun hath a course of his own back again. And so by creeping back again he makes the year in his own course. So the moon hath one course of he…
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appear before God, and then what an honour will it be for us, that we have witnessed for God in this world ! that we have stood for God and f^ood causes in the midst of the world, and ' shined as lights in the midst of a crooked generation' ! Philip, ii. 15. That we have managed the cause of God, and stood for religion…
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Dost thou think to can-y thyself subtlely, to have thy own ends in every- thing here, and then when death comes, a ' Lord, have mercy upon me' shall serve for all ? No ; thou must converse as a Christian while thou livest here in this world, ' in simplicity and sincerity.' God must have honour here by thee. Thou must h…
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Use. Therefore, as we would have an evidence of our sincerity, which is the best evidence that we can have in this world, that we may be able to say that we are sincere and true Christians, which is better than if a man could say he were a monarch, that he were the greatest man in the world, let us labour to earn/ ours…
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3. l>csides this, there is a spiritual, a lieaveiili/ icisdoin, whereby the soul having a right end and aim set and prefixed to it, it directs all its courses to that end ; whereby the soul is able to deliberate, to consult, and to resolve on heavenly things, and what hinders heavenly comfort ; and to resolve upon good…
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There is no enA^y in goodness, in strength and ability. They would have all to be so ; but baseness is joined with much envy. When it sees another overshadow it, it labours to eclipse him with slanders and base reports. This is a principle of carnal wisdom. And hence comes all that working and undermining, secret conve…
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' Not in fleshly wisdom.' Now wisdom is a middle word. It may be either spiritual or carnal, as the man is in whom it is. If a man have moral honesty in him, and good things in him that way, it makes him a good politician, a wise man, useful in his place. . Though he be not a sound Christian, yet he may be a wise man i…
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No doubt but St Paul, as he expressed himself, Kom. viii., as he had a conflict in himself in other regards : so there was a conflict between wis- dom and v.isdom. The wisdom of the flesh did stir against the wisdom of the spirit. Aye, but it is one thing to have fleshly wisdom in us, and it is another thing to make it…
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But consider, to amplify that which I gave in a branch before, what reason hath a Christian to be ruled by ' fleshly wisdom,' when it hinders him from all that is good, if he yield unto it, and keeps him in imperfect good ? I speak especially now to those that are not in the state of grace. What reason hath any one of…
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I say, it stirs up to ill, and it keeps us in ill. Carnal wisdom saith. You may do this, you may continue thus long. It deceives us with vain hopes of long life. I might enlarge the point. You see then what reason God's children have, not to be ruled by fleshly carnal wisdom. By the way, let me give this caution, tha…
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Use 1. The use that we will make of it shall he to stir its vp to imitation of the blessed apostle St Paul. I speak to them that their breeding and parts have raised many of them I hope from base filthy lusts ; so that the danger is now of ' fleshly wisdom.' The devil is more in the bram than in the heart, as he said o…
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t That is, ' marks.' — G. 2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 271 have distinct rules from God's rule. Well, well ! you have kindled a fire ; walk in the light of your own fire, but bo sure you shall lie down in sorrow. It is the pji'eatcst judgment that God can shew in this world, to give us up to our own wits, to our …
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Labour to have a right judgment of the things of the earth, that set carnal wisdom on work, to avoid poverty, to avoid suflering for a good cause. The devil inflames fancy. . Fancy thinks it is a great hurt to be in poverty ; fancy thinks it is a great good to be in honour, to be in credit, to have great place, that ot…
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There is nothing so sharp in conflict as this. To resist carnal wisdom, it is the shrewdest temptation that is from carnal wisdom ; and as the temptation is the strongest, so the comfort is answerable. When Jezebel shall be oflered with her enticements, with her colours, with her paint ; and a man can dash her in piece…
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When a Christian hath renounced carnal wisdom, God ! leaves him not in the storm in the world as a ship without a stern. '"' He leaves him not as having no pole-star to guide his course by, but he gives him better direction. He hath the word of God, he hath the Spirit of God, he hath * That is, ' helm.'— G. 2 COra…
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The wisdom of God for us, it watchcth over us, it keeps us from more evil, and doth more for us, than that which is in us, although that be spiri- tual and heavenly. Therefore the apostle here, he names not distinctly ' gracious wisdom,' which he mainly intends, as we see by the opposition, ' Not by fleshly wisdom, but…
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4. Again, (food is not f/ood without icisdom. Virtue is not virtue without discretion, when to speak, and when not to speak, ' A fool speaks all his mind at all times,' saith the wise man, Prov, xxix, 11, Now to do things in season, to be trees of righteousness to ' bring forth fi-uit in season,' Ps. i. 3. ' To speak a…
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2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 279 to salvation, and lie gives us grace likewise for the leading of a Christian life. Therefore it is an abominable conceit to distinguish religion from policy and government, as if the reasons of religion were one and the reasons of state were another ; and as if these were distingui…
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Therefore those that are to govern states, as they will answer to that one God, they are to establish that religion that he hath left to the w'orld in his word, and not any religion : not that which men have devised. To go a httle further. In that one religion that is left by him, there must be a care had, that the pe…
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2. Grace is something from that favour, from that free grace of God wrought in us. And that grace wrought in us is — (1.) First, the grace of a whole, universal change; for whomsoever God accepts graciously to life everlasting, he gives them the gifts of grace, with his favour ; he chaugeth their nature, that they ma}…
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Now the Spirit guides us not immediately, but it works a habit in us, as we call it, it works somewhat in us to dispose us to that which is good. And when that is wrought, the Spirit guides us to every particular action. These things that the Spirit works in us are called graces : because they come from out of ourselve…
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' My conversation hath been in the grace of God,' saith the apostle. Thereifore let us sanctify God in our hearts this way. And when we stand in need of any direction, desire God of his grace to give us wisdom, and to give us the grace that we stand in need of. This is for the phrase. The point as I told you was this, …
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Now to encourage you to go to the grace of God, to go to the fountain, and not to be held under carnal wisdom, under these j)retexts. Oh ! if I do not * That is, 'wondered at.' — G. 286 COMMENTARY ON hearken to carnal wisdom, I shall ho a heggar, I shall never rise, I shall never do this or that in the workl, I shall…
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Consider seriously of it, what a joy will this be, that we have led our lives by a rule different from the world, that we have led our lives and courses according to the motion of God's blessed Spirit ! This must needs bring joy and rejoicing with it in what estate soever. The world join these together, simplicity and…
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Those that deny carnal wisdom, that deny themselves, and put themselves upon God, it is a good evidence. And as it is a sign, so it is a cause. You see in holy Abraham, wdien he had put himself on God, and left his country, and his father's house, God guided him, God took him into his government. ' I am God all-suffici…
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God when he is honoured by trusting of him, when in sincerity we make him our wisdom, and make his word our rule, and the happiness that he hath promised our chief happiness that we aim at, and rest in him ; when we honour him so far, then he makes a supply of all other things. But I spake of sincerity to the full befo…
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Sif/n 5. Again, a man may know that he leads his life in gracious wisdom, or by gracious wisdom, when he fetchcth reasons for his actions, not from tliinifs helow, but from reiiffion, from conscience, from- spiritual thi)tfis. He doth not fetch the reason of his actions from this, that this will profit me, or I shall a…
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Sii/ii 7. Again, a man may know that he is guided by grace, that he doth everything by gracious wisdom, when lie doth provide for himself best in the best things, out of a sanctified judr/inent, when he doth judge aright of differ- ences ; when he considers that there is a difference between the soul and the body, betw…
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Now that we may guide om- lives by the Spirit working in us spiritual and gracious wisdom, First of all, consider ivhat I said before of jieshJii irisdom. There are none but they have one of these two guides, either the flesh, and by consequent the devil ; for the devil dwells in our carnal reason : that is his fort, …
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2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 295 high price set on the guidance of God's Spirit, and on grace, as indeed it is worthy of it, and then we shall have it. 4. Again, if we would lead our lives according to spiritual and heavenly wisdom, according to grace, and gracious wisdom ; let us learn, as it is, Job xxii. 21, to…
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6. Challeiif/e likewise the covenant of ffrace. We have a promise of all grace, and the spring of all grace. We have a promise of love. God will teach us to ' love one another,' John xiii. 34. We have a promise of fear. He hath piomised that ' he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall never depart from him,' …
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So, that the souls when they go out of this world being very unclean, that they should be purged, that there should be some satisfaction, some purgator^^ &c., here seems to be wisdom. But wherefore serves the blood of Christ then ? That is the only purgatory, that purgeth from all sins, mor- tal sins, venial sins, all …
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2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 209 the world shall daunt us ; wo shall have comfort in all the passages of our lives, be they what they will. Whereas other men that lead not their lives in a constant course of holy simphcity and sincerity, they are as the prophet saith, ' like the leaves of the forest,' Isa. vii. 2, …
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Therefore it is an idle thing to suppose that there will be any good suc- cess by carnal projects ; no, the only good statesman is the religious man. And it was never better with the church of God, before or since the time of Christ, than when those w^ere in the stern.* Do but think of this oft, as St Jude saith, ' God…
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It is the easiest thing in the w^orld to be pohtic, to be naught, to double. The nature of man teacheth a man to be false. Man's heart is full of naughtiness. It is a hard thing for a man to be one ; and till a man be a gracious man, he shall be a double man. Therefore you must take heed of a fault, which is called th…
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Therefore, if 5"ou would have the speeches of the ministers to take effect, you should desire God not only to guide them in what they are to say, but likewise with the same Spirit to work in the hearers ; and when the same Spirit works in both, what a glorious success is there ! As we see here, St Paul carried himself …
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Let us therefore first look to our own conscience, and then to the con- science of others ; and if we cannot approve ourselves to our own con- science, and to the conscience of others, alas ! what will become of us ? how shall we approve ourselves to God and to Jesus Christ at the day of judgment ? There is no man but …
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Now you acknowledge me, and ' I trust in God you shall acknowledge me to the end.' So here St Paul sets down what he resolved to be by the grace of God, and what in the issue he should be ; because holy resolutions are seconded with gracious assistance. And likewise he sets down what they should judge of him to the en…
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It is not good to cast off all conceit, and all hope of any man living. The worst sign is, when we see men malicious, and oppose known truths, because it comes near the sin against the Holy Ghost ; but because we may err in that, it is good to take the safest way. But where we see e\4dences of grace, though in never so…
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Then besides, St Paul was conscious of his own sincerity ; for grace carries its own witness with itself, as he saith here, I know my conversa- tion. * This is the testimony of my conscience, that in simplicity and sin- cerity I have walked before you.' He knew that sincerity is accompanied with constancy and persevera…
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This is the glory of a good life, that whether a man look above him, he hath God to witness for him. Or whether he look to the world, to right judging persons, he hath them to judge for him. He dares appeal to their conscience. Or whether he look within him, he hath a good witness from niO OOMMENTAKY ON his own consc…
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Seeing acknowledging is repeated twice as an evidence of a good Chris- tian, to approve of the image of God in another, and to acknowledge it, therefore often examine your hearts what you acknowledge. Do you ac- knowledge that the abstaining trom evil courses, from fraud and cunning in your callings, that the abstainin…
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God will have little to do at the day of judgment with most men in the church, to condemn them ; for, alas ! their own consciences will condemn them, the consciences of all will condemn them that their courses were naught. And that makes wicked men so cruel, especially if they get into place of authority. They know th…
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Spelled ' quffire.' — G. 814 COMMENTARY ON VERSE 14. ' As also i/oti liave aclcnowlcilfjed m in part, that we are your rcjoicinfi, even as ye are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.' You have acknowledged us in part, now since you have ropi'uted ; for when be wrote the former epistlo to them, they had many corruption…
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But now such as are ruled by their own lusts, and by the examples of others, and care not for the spiritual leading of Christ, they do not acknowledge him. ' Let not this man reign over us,' Luke xix. 14. They shake off his bands, they are ' sons of Belial,' Judg. xix. 22, without yoke. And they shall be reckoned at th…
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' As ye have acknowledged us in part.' You acknowledge us ministers, you acknowledge our doctrine, you acknowledge Christ by us. How do these Corinthians acknowledge St Paul in part ? ' That ive are your rejoicing, even as ye are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.' ' You have acknowledged us, that we are your rejoic…
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What is the reason God brings us' to heaven by the ministiy of men, and doth not send angels, or do all by his Spirit without help ? Amongst the rest, this is one, he would have one to glory in another, he would tie one to another. Therefore, it ties one man to another, this re- lation to see the need of God's ordinan…
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The people's good estate in grace is the minister's joy, and will be, espe- cially after the day of judgment. ' Ye are our rejoicing.' As he saith, Philip, iv. 1, ' Ye are our crown and our glory.' And so, 1 Thess. ii. 19, * What is our crown and rejoicing ? Is it not you ?' In eveiy epistle almost, those good and gra…
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"What a happiness is this, that the more a man is interested in the good of another man, the more glory, if he be a means of any good in him ! He shall have good, and you shall have glory. The best things in natm-e are communicative and difi'usive. The sun gives light to the whole world. So the best man is most fruitf…
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To add one thing more. What ! these Corinthians, that had so many abuses, and such weaknesses, were they the matter of St Paul's joy ? Yes ! why, therefore people must take heed how they leave churches that have corruptions in them. Schism ofttimes is a greater fault than the fault upon which they pretend separation.…
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824 COMMENTARY ON riches be then at the day of the Lord Jesus ? Therefore a Christian values them not ; they are not the good of a Christian ; he estcsoms not the applause of men. And pleasures are iiotliing, they are momentary, tlicy avail not when conscience is awaked. They leave a man, and not only so, but they lea…
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Let us labour to be acquainted with him now before that day. We shall never have comfort in the day of the Lord Jesus, except we be acquainted with him, and acknowledge him in the miuistiy now, and in the sacra- ments ; for none shall ever be acquainted with him there, that have not been acquainted with him, and known …
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* At the day of the Lord Jesus.' St Paul esteemed of nothing but that which would comfort him at that day. Therefore let us oft thiiik of the day of the Lord Jesus. Why ? What will make us digest labour, and pains, in dealing with the souls of others, in doing good, and being fruitful in our places ? The consideration …
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Oh ! this pleaseth now some vicious disposed persons. They think this makes for them. Not at all ; what I speak is, where there is any ground to hope well of. St Paul had some ground, for he wrote a sharp epistle to them, and he saw they were amended on it. He saw they yielded, they acknowledged, that is, they reforme…
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Use. It should stir up in our hearts an esteem of the ordinance of God of preaching ; or else we slight it with the prejudice of our own souls. For doth God appoint it for anything but for our own good ? There is a common objection, which (because it is raised out of this epistle, and may be an- swered out of this epis…
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2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 15. 331 spiritual life is wrought in us by the word ; therefore the word preached, it is a special grace and favour of God. St Paul here calls his coming to them to strengthen and confirm them, ' a grace.' For all means come under the same decree of God's eternal love with the decree itsel…
903 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.