PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 5
Richard Sibbes · 354,580 words · 358 reading sections
Section 1
NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES. PUEITAN PEEJOD. Mtflj ^tmxnl gnfaa By JOHN C. MILLEE, D.D., LINCOLN COLLEGE ; BONOSABT CANON OF WOBCfcSTEB ; EECTOB Of 8T MAETIN'S, BIKMINGUAM. THE WORKS OF EICHAPiD SIBBES, D.D. VOL. V. COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION. W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregation…
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1. One to another. 2. To those that are not Christians 3. To Christ himself. We must give up ourselves to this Lord. Christ's Lordship a stop against sin. It is also a comfort in affliction. Whether Christ by dying merited for himself. . Christians must be always projecting for his glory. Christ's Lordship comfortable …
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Of the sin against the Holy Ghost, and a twofold mis- carriage about it in censuring. . . . 425, 426 IV. What course we should take to prevent grieving the Spirit, in divers rules. .... 420 CONTENTS. 1'aue [1.] Give 3'ourself up to the government of it, . . 426 [2.] Subject constantly to the Spirit's motions ; the…
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Notes. Page 407 468 468 472 474 474 475 477 477 479 487 496 504 514 525 539, 540 THE CHRISTIAN WOEK VOL. V. THE CHRISTIAN WORK. NOTE. 'The Christian Work' forms a portion of a considerable quarto, published in 1639. The general title-page is given below.* The 'Exposition' of chap. iii. follows this, and the other…
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It is true, heaps of books is one of the oppressions of the world, and the invention of the press hath been the exaltation of weakness and vanity amongst men, as well as of learning and knowledge. Yet know I no way better to retain the oppressed in this kind, than for men of worth and grown judgments and learning to ap…
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First, The duty, ' work.' Secondly, Directions to the right manner of performing this duty. Thirdly, The motives to this duty. The manner of performance of this work : First, it must be in sincerity ; secondly, in obedience ; thirdly, it must be earnestly and thoroughly ; fourthly, it must be constant ; fifthly, it …
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Joash was a good king so long as Jehoiada lived.* Many seem to be good, so long as those in authority are good ; but if they die once, all good goes away with them. But a good Christian is ever good ; and in all * Cf. 2 ciirou. xxiv. 2.— Ed, 8 THE CURISTIAN WORK. places, occasions, companies, ho will bo liko himself.…
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But take this caution withal, that we more highly esteem our Christian calling than our ordinary vocations and duties ; and to that end we ought to redeem some time from our ordinary callings to meditate, and to examine ourselves, and to pray. And this to be done daily, for Christ saith, ' Labour not for the meat that …
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* Now much more in my absence.' These words I take not to be so meant, as if the apostle had spoken of what they already had done, but rather what he would have them to do, as if he should have said, ' I know now that I am absent, you shall want no allurements nor temptations to draw you away ; and I know now I am gone…
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12 TDK CHRISTIAN WORK. creatures of \Yliom we arc lords ; and tliis proceeds from a carnal distrust in God. But in this place is meant a spiritual fear, which may be branched into three divers kinds. First, a fear of reverence, which is a fear mixed with love ; when we fear one or stand in awe of him for his greatnes…
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Secondh', This fecir must be serious. It must work a kind of trembling, by reason of the dangers that we meet withal, which are like to be many and great. Thirdly, This fear must be total, in the whole man. For that the image of God is in the body, even as in the soul, and as in other affections a proud man is known b…
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1. For the first, that a Christian hath a ivill and power to do good, this is necessary. For in all estates, whether a man be good or bad, his will is the chief; and therefore, in conversion of any one, the will and judgment is first wrought upon and converted. And therefore this may be noted to * Consult Dr Faithful …
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Doct. That perseverance is from God. He gives to will and to do. 'He that hath begun will finish the good work,' saith the apostle in the first of this epistle, and the sixth verse. It is not in our strength to hold out ; for after we are once changed, God gives grace sufficient to restrain us and to hold us up. God de…
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Now, let us come to them, as they have relation one to another, and particularly of the force of the reason. ' God gives the will and deed, according to his own good pleasure :' therefore fear, and take heed how thou neglectest the means. Fear exaltation of spirit, and trust not on outward means. David, that holy man, …
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THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 19 will give * the will and deed.' Christ he knew that the Father loved him and would honour him, but yet he prays, ' Father, glorify thy Son,' John xvii. 1. So in sickness, to whom God purposes and decrees health, he shall do well. But how ? Without means ? No. They must use advice of physicians, …
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Causes of mnrmnring. 1. The first cause of murmuring is ignorance of God' s pfarticular providence ; his excellency and thy baseness. Job when he came to see the glory and power of God, then said, 'I abhor myself, I will dispute no more,' Job xlii. 6. K we did likewise consider of his majesty, power, wisdom, and goodn…
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subject thyself therefore to it. Though we behave ourselves as stubborn horses, he will tame us and overrule us well enough ; he is too mighty for us. Our stubbornness is the ground of all our crosses and afflictions ; for if we will not easily bo brought in, God, that out of his mercy chose us, will bring us in to yie…
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' Harmless.' The word signifies simple, without all mixture or com- position ; or else void of hm-t, without horn, as the word imports {e). The doctrine is, that it is the property of Christians to do no harm. The reason is, because our nature now is changed from that it was ; for by nature we are to one another lions…
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THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 25 ' Oh the depth of that love !' Earthly fathers adopt sons because they die, but God is eternal ; he never dies ; his Son is everlasting. Consider this as a point of comfort, for this relation is everlasting ; he never Icaveth U3 nor forsakes us. Servants are cast out, but the Son abidcth for eve…
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Quest. But some will ask, Is it not possible to be the son of God, and 3'et ignorant thereof? Ans. I answer, Yes. For the child at the first knows not his father ; but by little and little he comes to know him as he grows in years. So is it with the child of God. At the first he only cries and bewails his miserable es…
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8. Thirdly, Keep good comp)any, and such as by their life will discover to thyself thy corruptions and j)erverse estate ; and thus when thou findest it, 4. Consider what a miserable estate thou art in. We amongst us account it a great eyesore to see a body that should be straight to be crooked. Oh that we had eyes to …
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* That is from avTi and 'irisidTaaig — G. THE CnRISTIAN WORK. 29 1. First, We know this creature of li.i^ht is an excellent creature, shewing the excellency of all other creatures ; and it is a beautiful creature. Thus is the word, and children of God. By it all the world is discovered to be as Egypt, and the church …
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9. Again, Heavenhj lights are perjjetual. Even as stella cadentes, so is it with the wicked man. Though he seems to shine fairly, yet because the causes of this light in him are earthly, no marvel if after the force of them be spent they suddenly vanish. But the godly man's light is of another substance and nature. It …
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8. And when thou art converted, ' strengthen thy brethren,' Luke xxii. 32 ; labour to bring others into this marvellous light. ' He that gains a soul shall shine as the stars,' Dan. xii. 3. But will some men say, May we converse then or live among wicked men ? Yes, verily ; for the Holy Spirit saith that we must * shin…
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THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 33 What shall we then think of those private devotions, wherewith many men put off God's ordinance, thinking that they can got as much good in their warm chamber by reading of books, as in the public congregation by hear- ing God's word taught ? These are fools, setting their foolish inventions aga…
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NOTES. (a) P. 8. — ' No perfunctory thing can please God. To this end, as Seneca sayp, of performing of duties natural, so in religious duties there is required : first, a right judgment of the nature of the thing we do ; secondly, an aflfection to do it,' &c. This is a commonplace of the Stoic philosophy ; and while …
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Use 2. And secondly, it ought to give us warning, that ive oinjht not to set upon anything, wherein we cannot expect God's gxifhoice ; and so conse- quently cannot trust on him for a blessing upon what we do. For if we do, we must look to meet the Lord standing in our way, as Balaam did, in opposing our lewd and wicked…
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430146 38 OF THE PROVrOENCE OF GOD. that bo hath hedged us and fenced us about with government, and authority, and good laws, and hath taken out of us the stones and thorns of popeiy, and profaneuess ; and yet \vc bring forth wild grapes. And might he not break down the wall ; and that justly, and suil'cr us to be de…
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Use 3. In the third place, if ministers be soldiers for us, let ?<s help them by our ^9;w/^'rs. ' Curse Meroz,' saith the angel of the Lord. Why ? ' Because they came not to help the Lord,' Judges v. 23. If those are cursed with a bitter curse, that came not to help them that fight for the Lord, what curse remaineth to…
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* ' And it shall bo, that thou slialt drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.'— G. t Misprinted 'becomes.' — G. OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 41 Their heaven is not here ; for they are not clean from corruption, which bringcth death and sickness, by which also God intends good to the body.…
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(2.) In the second place, if thou wilt be sick to thy comfort, disease not thy sold beforehand. Those that will avoid sickness, they will abstain from such meats and other things as may increase their malady. Let it be thus in our soul sickness ; find what thou art sick of, and take heed of hunting after such temptatio…
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(2.) 'Judge yourselces, that ye he not judged of the Lord,' 1 Cor. xi. 31 ; lay thyself open by confession ; renew thy repentance, and confess thyself thoroughly, and spare not thyself. It is cruelty to be merciful to thyself in this thing. And justify God ; say with the holy prophet, ' Just art thou, 0 Lord, and right…
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; But the Lord. Doct. Observe this comfortable exception : God brijigs his children low, but he raises them vp arjain, if it be for their good: Ps. cxviii. 17, 'I will not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.' Nay, then espe- cially, when they are past all worldly means of recovery ; and as it is in sickn…
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OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 47 his merciful dealing with thee. Indeed, as we look on death bein" an enemy to our nature, and a destroyer thereof, we desire it not. Yet, con- sidering it as God's decree and will, say still, 'Thy will bo done, O Lord, and not mine.' Paul, he considered for himself it was better to die, bu…
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That when you see him ar/ain you may rejoice. The Philippians hereby had a double cause of joy. First, sight of their pastor whom they loved. Seeing friends is more comfortable than all ways of hearing from them ; and the joys of heaven are commended to us by the beatifical vision we hear of these joys here. But when …
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* That is, ' painstaking.' — G. t Qu. ' they are as unsavoury salt ' ? Cf. Mat. v. 13.— G. VOL. V. D CO OF THE I'EOVirENCE OF GOD. grace is llio greater ; for there will be an affection suitable to tlic propor- tion of grace they have. And to this end observe with mo some motives to incite us to this duty ; and fir…
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VERSE 30. Because for the work of CJtrist he ivas nigh to death. This work of Christ especially aims at works of mercy to Paul while he was in prison, and for these he is said to be nigh to death. By his long and tedious journey he took a sickness, and thereby was nigh to death. And these are called ' the works of Ch…
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OF THE PROVIDENCE OF ODD. 53 Ans. I answer : If a man be lawfully called to answer for himself, ho must know that he ought to tell the truth, and not to be ashamed thereof; for why do men live but to live honestly, and to keep a good conscience ? And it is more necessary that truth should flourish and be cleared than …
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NOTES. (a) P. 42. — ' See what be is by bis diseases and sicknesses, say tbey of Calvin, who, as Beza writes of him, was much aflflicted that way.' Beza speaks very toucli- ingly of the last illness of the great Reformer, who, as another has observed, seemed to forget in his over-studioiisness that he had a body as we…
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(2.) In the second place observe, that it belongs only to Christians to rejoice. Others have neither cause of jo}^ nor commandment to rejoice. The ministers and prophets are bidden to bid such howl and lament, to shew them their miserable estate.* And indeed what ground can a con- demned person have of joy ? For the wi…
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60 EXPOSITION OF bound to give them joy, God justly denies such that which they pre- sume of. In the second phace : Pnni that ifour joij may he full . See this in most of David's psalms. At the first he complains for the want of God's presence, of God's wrath and anger, but comes olT with a large portion of comfort.…
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Obj. But it will be objected, that the Christian is fuller of sorrow than joy. To which I answer, Ans. It arises either from ignorance of the grounds of comfort, or from want of application of them. When a man is a young Christian, newly begun, he knows not nor understands what grounds he hath of joy. They are as chil…
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Doct. 2. And in the second place, it teaches us that it is the duty of those that mean to prevail by instruction, to knoiv the secret dispositions of those they deal withal. For when their minds are not quieted or cleared from doubts and hindi'ances, they are not fit to entertain any good counsel at all. Doct. 3. And …
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fjse 1. Let it not therefore be (jrievous to ministers to do irhat is for the safety of God's children. They must do it till they see practice come to per- fection, and they must cast and cast again. Peter he cast often and got nothing, yet at Christ's word he cast again. So must ministers. God that blesseth not every …
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In the second place, not only the young ordinary Christians, but even the best settled Christians had need to beware also. The Philippians were a church established in the truth. Eve was seduced, being in her innocent estate. But I need not stand on this at this time. I proceed to the duty, which is to ' beware.'' Whic…
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* Qu. ' god ' ?— Ed. PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 2. 67 would be mediators, and will be of every religion, or rather of none ; who jumble religions, mixing truth and falsehood, light and darkness together. But he that made distinction between the ' seed of the woman' and the ' seed of the serpent,' made also eternal d…
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I answer, We have suffered a concision ; we have made none. And again, we acknowledge we have separated from these Romans, not from those that were in Paul's time. It is they that have made a concision, and cut themselves from the mother church. But to pass from these : we have a concision among us, and that in a contr…
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1. First, Know thy sin, and thy particular sin, by thy checks of conscience and by the checks we receive from our enemies, who shall spy what they can in us thereby to scandalise us. As also observe what thy thoughts work most upon, what is the main thing that generally takes up your cogitations. 2. When thou hast fou…
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3. Thirdly, The spirit hath a being of itself, and praiseth, loveth and rejoiceth in God when it is out of the body ; and the body is stirred up to this duty only by the spirit, being of itself senseless as a block; and outward worship without inward ' is but the carcase of worship. The prayer of a wicked man is abomin…
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A fourth sign is, That at the hour of thy death this spiritual irorshipping of God u'ill (jive thee content, when iiothin(/ else can. Thou mayest say with comfort, as Hezekiah did, ' Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in sinceritj',' Isa. xxxviii. 2, 3. When downright affliction comes, outward verbal professi…
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lieason 1. First, As he is God and man. He is God full of all things; he is man full of all grace and void of all sin. He is Christ anointed to perform all his offices ; he is a prophet all-sufiicient in all wisdom. In him are the treasures of wisdom. He teaches us not only how to do, but he teaches the very deed. He i…
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Use 5. In the fifth place. See wherein the glory of a man, of a nation, of a kingdom consists. It is in Christ, and that which exhibits Christ. What made the Jews rejoice ? Mark the prerogatives they had, Rom. ix. 8, 4 : adoption, covenant, promises, and Christ. AVhat made the house of Judah 60 famous ? and Mary so ble…
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By ' flesh' is meant outward things, as prerogatives, privileges, actions of a man's own doing, and particularly, he aims at circumcision, which he calls ' outward, and that of the flesh,' Rom. ii. 28. So as the observation that we'may gather is, that confidence in Christ takes aivay confideiice in outtuard things. The…
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First. Circumcision was the first prerogative before conversion ; and it was not before the eighth day, to the end that the child might gather some strength to bear and endure the ceremony, for it was of itself grievous, and a bloody ceremony ; wherefore it was that Moses his wife called him a bloody husband, Exod. iv.…
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xins. I answer, St Paul then had a new esteem and judgment ; he had a new light which shewed him much corruption, where before he saw none. This meets with weak Christians, that think themselves unconverted and castaways, because they see a great deal of sin in them. Paul was without blame ; now * miserable man, who sh…
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For, first, he knows they are meaner than the soul. These are earthly, the soul is from heaven ; these are outward, the soul is spiritual, and therefore is only satisfied with spiritual and heavenly comforts. Secondly, A Christian sees these things are fading, arising of nothing, and tending to nothing ; contrarily, h…
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PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 8. 83 lies in them, and seeing no good nor help in themselves, their desires are stirred up to the embracing of some better thing wherein they may find comfort. Then doth God reveal Christ to us, to whom he will have us to fly, and say, ' Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?' So as this pow…
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Oh, but Bellarmine says [j), the prophet speaks this in the person of the wicked. I hope he will not put the prophet into that number ; for he saith, ' we,' and * our ;' and ' our righteousness,' not our ill deeds; and 'all our righteousness.' Nay, of himself in particular, Isaiah saith as much in Isa. vi. 5. And besid…
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Last of all. Let us take heed of extenuating sin. The papists tell us of divers sins that are venial. Such are sun-eptitious thoughts, taking of pins, stealing of points, f and the like ; these they call venial. But we must * That is, = argue, quarrel. — G. t That is, = laces or latchets, small things. — G. 86 EXPOS…
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Ninth, In the next place, this knoioledge is altogether sufficient in itself without all other knowledge ; and none without this to make a man wise to salvation, both of soul and body ; and all men without this are but fools. Use 1. For use hereof. Tliis improies tlie shallmo conceit men have of divinity ; that the kn…
1,046 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.