PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 4
Richard Sibbes · 362,113 words · 363 reading sections
Section 121
There must be a qualification of those that heaven, is jirovided for ^ They must be such as love God, such as are altered, and changed, and sanctified to love him ; because no unclean thing shall enter in thither ; because we cannot so much as desire heaven without a change. We cannot have communion there with Christ …
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To come then to the point itself, the disposition of those that shall come to A GLANCE OF HEAVEN. 181 heaven then is, t/ieij must he snch as love God. Now lie names this because these two go alwaj-s toge'Jier. There goes somewhat of ours together with somewhat of God's, to witness to us what God doth. There goes our …
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To come therefore to express moi'e particularly this affection of love, ■which is the disposition that God requires and works in all those that he intends heaven to. Let us search into the nature of this love to God. What it is to love we need not be taught, for all men know it well enough. It is better known, indeed, …
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(1.) Now, this must needs be so; for where grace is, it gives a sanctified judgment ; a sanctified judgment values and esteems things as they are. Now the judgment, apprehending God and his love to be the best thing to make us happy, prizeth it above all : ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and w^hat have I in earth in…
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(4.) Esteem likewise carries our thoughts. Wouldst thou know what thou esteemest highly ? What dost thou think of most and highest ? Thou mayest know it by that. We see the first branch, how we may know we love God, if we have a high esteem and valuing of God, by these signs. Secondhj, "WTiere there is true love and a…
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(4.) Again, where this desire of union and joining is, there is a desire even of death itself, that there may he a fuller union, and a desire of the con- summation of all thinr/s. Therefore so far as we are afraid of death, and tremble at it, so far we want love. When the contract is once made between Christ and the so…
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Therefore ask thy afi'ections whither thou wouldst run if there come a confusion of all things. When men are apt to say, Oh what will become of us ! and they think of this and that, a good Christian hath God to rest in. He hath God reconciled in Christ, and in his love he plants him- self in life and death. He makes Go…
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God and Christ are wondrously pleased with faith. ' Thou hast wounded me with one of thine eyes.' Faith, and love from faith, wounds the breast of Christ : therefore let us labour for faith. ' 0 woman, great is thy faith,' Mat. xv. 28. It is such a grace as binds and overcomes God, it honours him so much. Let us theref…
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regard this, because we will think : Christ will regard me for the good I do for his sake, and in his name, to this and that party. Thus wc see how we may try this sweet all'ection, and not deceive our own souls. And therefore, where there is a desire of giving content, there will be a zeal against all things ; to I'e…
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But the highest performance of this, that there are things provided for God's people that ' neither e_ye hath seen nor ear hath heard,' &c., it is reserved for another world. For the promises of the gospel have then their fulfilling indeed. These words are true of the state of the gospel here now, but they have their a…
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Let us examine and try ourselves oft by our affections, how the}'' stand biassed and pointed, whether to God and heavenw^ard, or to the world ; for we are as we love. For what we love, we, as it were, marry ; and if we join our love to baser things, we marry baser things, and so debase our- selves. If we join in our af…
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3. But it may be asked again, as indeed we see it is true, what is the reason that sometimo meaner Christians have more loving souls than great scholars, men of great parts ? One would think that knowledge should increase love and aft'ection ? So it doth, if it be a clear knowledge; but 'great wits and pates* and grea…
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First of all, the way to love God is to have a heavenly light to discover tvhat we are in ourselves and our emptiness ; for being as we are, we can never love God till we see in what need we stand of his favour and. grace, that we are damned creatures else. Now when we come to have our ej^es opened to see our sinfulne…
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Benefits will work upon a beast ; as it is Isaiah i. 2, * Hear, 0 heavens ; and hearken, 0 earth : the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ; but my people have forgotten me.' Proud men become baser, and more brute than the very brutes ; benefits will move the very brute creatures. So, I say, these favo…
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Many are troubled with cold aflections, and wish. Oh that they could love ! They forget the way how to love. They will not meditate ; and if they do meditate, they think to work love out of their own hearts. They may as well work fire out of a flint, and water out of a stone. Our hearts are a barren wilderness. Therefo…
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And to make us the more careful this way, consider that when we place our affections upon anything else, consider the vanity of it. We lose our love and the thing and ourselves. For whatsoever else we love, if we love not God in it, and love it for God, it will perish and come to nothing ere long. The aflection perishe…
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The Apostle beginnetli this chapter with the commendation of his ministry, having been put upon it by their undervaluing of him ; yet so as together with himself he commeudeth them as his best and only testimonial and letters of commendation, ver. 2 ; and so maketh way for himself to fall into a more set and large comm…
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(1.) The matter of it ^l•as terrible, tending to the shame, confusion of face, and condemnation of the hearers ; insomuch as they were not able to stand before him, nor stedfastlj' to behold his face, it was such a dazzling and amazing light that shincd in his ministry. (2.) TJie manner of deUrenj was in obscnre and d…
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(1.) Fro)n tlie near union Ix'tivccn the human nature and the divine. They are one person. Therefore there is more Spirit in Christ than in all crea- tures put them together ; than in all the angels, and all men, because the divine nature is nearer to Christ than it is to the angels or to any creature. (2.) Christ hat…
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Secondly, He is * that Spirit ' in regard of his disjoensations towards his church and children. ' The Lord is that Spirit ;' that is, [1.] of all truths, and [2.] of all persons, to give life and quickening to them. (1.) First, of truths. What is the scope of the whole Scriptures but Christ ? from the first promise o…
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' The first Adam was a living soul, the last Adam was a quickening Spirit,' 1 Cor. xv. 45. He quickened himself when he was dead, and he quickens all his members too. First, he receives the Spirit himself, and the same Spirit that filled and sanctified his human nature, the same Spirit sanctifieth his church, which he …
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Thus have we opened the meaning of the words, and shewed ' how Christ is that Spirit,' both in respect of the Spirit's being eminently in him, and his giving of it, and spiritual gifts by it. All the vigoiir and life and influ- ence we have that is spiritual and supernatural, and above the ordinary course, is from the …
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Use 3. What need is there that tre should sanctify all ice take in hand by prayer ! When we go to hear a sermon, when we take up the Bible to read a chapter alone by ourselves, or in our families, we should lift up our eyes and hearts and voices to heaven ; we should say to Christ, Lord, join thy Spirit, be present wit…
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The holy apostles, we know, till the Spirit came more abundantly upon them, what dark creatures they were ! But when the Holy Ghost was come upon them, how full of life and light and courage they were ! that the more they suffered, the more they might suffer ! So it will be with Christians : the more spiritual they gro…
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(2.) Where the Spirit of Christ is likewise, it conrincclh, as it is John xvi. 8, seq. ; that is, it brings a clear evident conviction with it, that the truth of God is the truth of God. It is no doubtful thing. Therefore when a man staggers in the truth, in this and that course, whether he should do this or that, it i…
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[4.] And when we go to Christ for the Spirit, as we must beg it if we will have it, — God will give the Holy Ghost to them that ask him, Luke xi. 13, — remember that ice use the means carefully; reading, and hearing, and holy communion of saints, because though these without the Spirit can do nothing, jet the Spirit is…
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The more liberty that a man hath to do lawlessly what he will, contrary to justice and equity, the more he sins. The more he sins the more he is enthralled to sin. The more he is enthralled to sin the more he is in bondage to the devil, and becomes the enemy of God. Therefore if a man would pick out the wretchedest man…
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[1.] Christ doth save all that he doth save ansirerahle to the nature of tlie party saved. He saves them as reasonable persons, for he saves us that he may make us friends. He saves us as men, and redeems us as men. He doth not only pay a price for us as we buy a thing that is dead, but like- wise he frees us, so as we…
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Second, ' Where the Spirit is, there is liberty.' Again, inmatter of justi- fication there is a liberty and freedom of conscience from sin and the curse of sin, and all the danger that follows upon sin, by the Spirit. Obj. But you will say, the liberty of justification is wrought by Christ ; we are justified by the ob…
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When a man is under the bondage of the law, when he is under the fear of death, being armed with a sting, whatsoever he doth he doth it with a slavish mind. Where the Spirit of God is, there is the spirit of adoption, the spirit of sons, which is a free spirit. The son doth not duties to his father out of constraint an…
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Again, by the Spirit of Christ in sanctification we are made kings, to rule over our own lusts in some measure ; not kings to be freed altogether from them, but kings to strive against them. It is a liberty to fight, and in fighting to overcome at last. When the Israelites had a promise that God would give their enemie…
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And one thing give me leave to toucli, which though it be more subtle, yet it is useful, that the text puts me to speak of. * Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty' of the inward man, liberty of judgment, and liberty of will. Where the Spirit of God is not, there is no liberty, no free will. A little to touch up…
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First, Where the ivill chooseth and makes choice, and inclines to a thing icitk the advisement of reason. Alway that must be, or else it is not a human action. Now when the Spirit of God sets the will at liberty, a man doth that he doth with full advisement of reason ; for though God work upon the will, it is with enli…
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ABOVE THE LAW. 227 strcngtli of judgment, this is the greatest good. I will not move out of this circle. If I go out of this I shall be unhappy. And this is the greatest hberty of all. What do we pray in the Lord's prayer but for this liberty ? ' Thy will be done,' Mat. vi. 10. That is, take me out of my own will mor…
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Those, therefore, that are enemies of the dispensation of the gospel in the ministry, they are enemies to spiritual liberty ; and it is an argument that a man is in bondage to Satan when he is an enemy any way of the unfolding of the word of God. For it is an argument that he is licentious, that he will not be called t…
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230 EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL let US every day labour to grow farther and farther both in the knowledge and in the tfisto and feelhig of this spiritual liberty. Use 2. Oh beloved, what a blessed c())idltum it is to have tJiis spiritual lihertj/ ! Do but see the blessed use and comfort of it in all conditions. For if a…
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(2.) Again, where this liberty from the Spirit is, there is not'only a free- dom fi'om all gross sins, but likewise a blessed freedom to all duties, an enlargement of heart to ditties. God's people are a voluntary people. Those that are under grace, they are ' anointed by the Spirit,' Ps. Ixxxix. 20, and that spiritual…
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ABOVE THE LAW. 233 great a sinner, if ho can go to God, and spi'cad his soul, and lay open his sins with any remorse ; if he can come, and open his soul in confession and in petition, and beg mercy of God in Christ, to shine as a Father upon his soul — this Spirit of liberty to go to God, it argues that the Spirit of …
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Many are discovered hence to have no Spirit of God in them. In trouble whither go they ? To their purse, to their friends, to anything. They labour to overcome their troubles one way or other, by physic and the like, but never to go with boldness and comfort, and a kind of fami- liarity to God. They have no familiarity…
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He doth not say licentiousness to shake off all government ; for by too much licentiousness all liberty is lost ; but ' where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty.' For a true Christian is the greatest servant and the greatest freeman in the world ; for he hath a spirit that will yield to none. In things spiritual he…
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(4.) In a word, any sin against conscience grieves the Spirit of God, and hinders spiritual liberty, because ' where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty.' Would we preserve liberty, we must preserve the Spirit. If we sin against conscience, we hinder liberty every way. We hinder our liberty to good duties. When a ma…
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Verse 18. ' But we all, as in a glass, with open face behold the glory of the Lord, and are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.' As the sun riseth by degrees till he come to shine in glory, so it was with the Sun of righteousness. He discovered himself in the church by littl…
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' But we all as in a glass,' &c. I The happiness of man consists especially in two things : * Misprinted ' he.'— G. t Cf. lutroduction to Sibbes's Will, Vol. I. page cxxvii. — G, 240 EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL In commnnion with God, in conformity to God. The means how to attain them both arc laid down in this verse.…
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(1.) The glory of God ims in Adam; for Adam had the image of God upon him, and had communion and fellowship with God ; but there is greater glory now shining in the gospel, in Jesus Christ, to poor sinners. For when man stood in innocency, God did good to a good man, and God was amiable and friendly to a friend. Adam w…
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Do but consider what a loving God we have, who would not be so far in love with his only Son as to keep him to himself, when we had need of him : a God that accounts himself most glorious in those attributes that ai'e most for our comfort. He accounts not himself so glorious for his wisdom, for his power, or for his ju…
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Use 3. Again, let us stay ourselves, ivJie)i we walk in darkness, with the con- sideration of the (jloriousncss of God's mercy in Jesus Christ, here called ' the gloiy of the Lord.' It is no less mercy than glorious mercy that will satisfy us, when we are in distress of conscience ; and if this will not, what will ? Le…
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And therefore those that find their consciences anything wounded with any sin, stand not out any longer with God, come and yield, lay down your weapons, there is mercy ready. The Lord is glorious in his mercy in Jesus Christ. It is a victorious triumphing mercy over all sin and unworthiness whatsoever. Look upon God in…
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sort is the glass, for we cannot see God out of Christ but he is a terrifying sight. But in the glass Christ we can see God, as we see the sun in the water. If we cannot see the sun in his glory, that is but a creature, how * That is, ' repealed the curse.' — G. ADOVE THE LAW. 247 can we see God himself but in som…
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We consist of body and soul in this world, and our souls are much confined and tied to our. senses. Imagination propounds to the soul greater things than the senses. So God helps the soul by outward things that work upon the senses ; sense upon the imagination, and so things pass into the soul- God frames his manner of…
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God puts a spiritual eje by his Spirit into all true believers, whereby they behold this excellent glory, this glorious grace, that God moy have the glory, and we the comfort. Those are the two main ends. God intends his own glory and our salvation. There must be a ' beholding.' How Bhould he have glory and we comfort,…
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Use. Therefore, we should labour to clear this eye of the soul, that we may behold the glory of God in the glass of the gospel. Qui'st. How shall we have the eye of our souls fit to behold the glory of God? Aus. 1. We must fix the eye of the soul ; fix our meditation upon the glory of God and the excellency of Christ…
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If the things of themselves be dark ; or if they be lightsome, and there be no sight within ; or if there be sight, and that sight be veiled ; there can be no seeing. But now to God's elect he takes away all these veils, he shines inwardly and gives outward light in the help of means ; and yet not- withstanding while w…
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Sometimes when the soul is bold in sin, it weakeneth boldness and faith, and makes us look upon that object that our sins hath deserved, upon a wise God. For howsoever we may behold his glorious face in Christ, yet if we behold sin against conscience, God will hide himself, Christ will hide his face, and hide the promi…
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And indeed so it is matter of comfort to see a communion of many in one ; for what is the mystical body of Christ Jesus but many members joined in one body, under one gracious and glorious head ? And therefore it is a deformed sight to see fraction and disunion. It is that the devil rules in. Divide and rule. It is fit…
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* Qu. ' of ' ' — Ed, ABOVE THE LAW. 257 God that is unchangeable, or we that are corrupt and changeable ? God will not change. There is no reason he should. He is goodness itself, alway unchangeable. His perfection stands in an individual point. He cannot alter a whit. There is not a shadow of change in God. Therefor…
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Remember this against some weak conceits likewise, that would have all the change in justification. They rent * Christ's offices, as if he were all priest, and not a king to govern ; as if he were righteousness, and not sanctification ; as if he had merit to die for us and to give us his righteous- ness, and no efficac…
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' Into the same image.' The pattern to which we are changed is the image of Christ. It is a rule, and a tx'ue rule, the first in every kind is the measure of all the rest. It is the idea, the pattern, and platform of all the rest. Now Christ is the first, for he is the ' fu-st-born,' the ' first fruits,' the 'iirst be…
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Now the reasons why the second Adam changeth us into his own image are many : First, Because lie is a poiverful head that changeth all his members, a ABOVE THE LAW. 2G1 powerful root that cliangeth all his branches into his own nature, a pon-erful husband that changeth his own spouse. I say, he is a quickening Spiri…
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(1.) And as I said for his carriage toward Jiis friends, to those that were good, how sweet and indulgent was he. [l.J Where there icas any her/innings of goodness, he did encourage it. He never sent any back again, but those that went back again of their own head, as the young man. Christ sent him not back. He was so…
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And then when Satan would confess him, and make much of him, ' Oh thou art the Son of God,' he would have nothing to do with him. So those that are manifestly led with the spirit of Satan, and would press kindness on us, have nothing to do with them so far. As we say of the devil he is not alway a liar, but he alway co…
918 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.