PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 5
Richard Sibbes · 354,580 words · 358 reading sections
Section 121
First, 2'hat God carries his children in this irorld through variety of con- ditions. They sometimes want, and sometimes abound. Their condition is sometimes more comfortable than at others. That is the first point. 2. The second is, Tluxt in this rarietij of conditions, as they know what it is to want and to abound, …
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3. The third general thing is. He can want and he can abound, ivithout taintiny himself over much ti'ith the sins of those conditions. For instance, he * That is, ' toucli,' = make tender, move, or qu. ' care for ' ? = regard. Cf. Richardaon, sub voce. — G. 180 THE ART or CONTENTMENT. can abound without pride, thoug…
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4. Having spoken in particular, then he comes to the general, wherein he wraps up all : 'I can do all things, but in Christ that strengthens me.' Here is, 1. First of all. The blessed apostles ahility, ' I can do all things.' 2. And then here is, secondly, the spring of his ability, whence he hath it: ' I can do all …
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THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 183 he be answerable to bis own name, if be be not an bypocrite, he hath an abibty in him, be can do more than the world. Use 1. First of all then, learn here, that religion is not a matter of u-ord, nor stands upon words, as wood consists of trees. To speak thus and thus, it may come from par…
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1. In the first rank of infirmities are the imperfection of rfood actions, which are either distractions and deadness in prayer and hearing ; or invincible infinnities, of which as an ancient father saith well, ' Lord, deliver me from my miserable necessities' (b). A man may be in such a state sometimes in regard of th…
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5. So then the point of doctrine is this, tliat the trial of a sincere Chris- tians estate is nniversality of obedience. Universality of carriage in all con- ditions is the trial of Christian sincerity. He must dispense with himself in no sin, and he must be a vessel prepared for every good work, ' a vessel of glory,' …
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THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 187 withstanding, this must be understood evangelically, ' I can do all things.' What ! legally, without a flaw ? No ; ' I can do all things' so far forth, as shall shew that I am a true Christian, and not an hypocrite ; so far as shall be beautiful in the eye of others, to allure them to the e…
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Ans. 3. Again, /'or 7ca)it of resohition. A Christian goes not out always with his spiritual armour, as he should. He goes not out with a purpose to please God in all things, and to avoid all sins ; but his armour is loose about him. If a Christian would resolve, in the power of God, to break through all difficulties, …
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* The Lord is that Spirit,' 2 Cor. iii. 17. Christ doth all in the church by his Spirit. Now, the Spirit is the union of Christ, he strengthens all ; all our strength is by Christ's Spirit. Now, this Spirit of God first sanc- tifies Christ, the human nature of Christ, before he sanctifieth us. We have all grace and pow…
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Know, by the way, that he is a voluntary head. Though he be an head of influence that flows into every member, yet he is a voluntary head, according to his own good pleasure, and the exigents of his members. THE ART OF CONTENTMENT, 101 Sometimes we have need of more gi'ace, and then it flows into us from him accordin…
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1. First, 2o Joioiv our own ximnt, and to know the iircessity of grace, and the exceUency of the state of holiness, that of all conditions it is the best, and of all conditions a sinful estate is the worst. This will make us go out of ourselves to Christ. Well, how shall we fetch strength from Christ then? 2. Consider…
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NOTES. (a) P. 178. — ' I have learned It is very significant in the original.' The original is ,a£//,!j};/j(,a/, = I have been fully taught, I have heen initiated. The Vul- gate is closer than our version, ' institutus sum.' The Bishop of Gloucester (Ellicott) has an interesting note on this a-r. \iy!iijj. of the New…
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Doct. 2. Secondly, As Christ is risen, so shall ive rise. He is the meri- torious cause of om- resurrection, he hath deserved that we should rise ; he is the worker of it. By that same power whereby he rose again, by the same will he raise us up at the last day. He is every way the cause ; and which is something more, …
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Use 1. So then a Christian that is risen with Christ, must have nothing to do with carnal men, no further than he is thrust upon them, or that he may convert them. They must not accompany with men of a contrary spirit ; seeking by all means to express the love of piety. Thus should the life of a Christian be suitable t…
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Again, as a Christian may do it, and ought to do it, and cannot but do it ; — Boct. 7. So I add further, he r/Jories in it. To be heavenly-minded, and exercised in spiritual dutifts, is his happiness and his joy. He is never so well, never so much himself, as when he is most possessed with heavenly- mindedness, and mo…
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You see the first proposition, 'Ye are dead.' With whom ? 'With Christ, in God.' A Christian is dead many ways. He is dead to the law, to the moral law. He looks not to have comfort and salvation by it, by the law ; he is dead to the law, and so flies to Christ. A Christian is dead also to the ceremonial law. Now, in…
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Sometimes God himself hides It im self out of wisdom and mercy to us, when he sees that we carry not ourselves so reverently as we should. And this reason may be sufficient of God's dispensation. God will have it so, partly for the further hardening of wicked persons, and for trial. For if all were laid open in this ex…
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We see then that our life is hid in Christ ; and what kind of life this is. It is a secret, sure, peculiar, glorious life. Alas ! we are ready to judge of ourselves by the present, and not to think it a glorious life. But he saith, it is hidden for us. ' Light is sown for the righteous,' Ps. xcvii. 11. It doth not app…
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■ And then after the life of justification, being justified by faith, we have the life of sanctification and holiness. For God out of his love, when he hath pardoned our sin, he gives his Spirit as the best fruit of his love ; and we having our consciences absolved and acquitted by the Spirit of God, through the obedie…
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Quest. But hosv shall I know, saith a weak soul, — that finds little comfort * That is, ' communicate.' — G. THE HIDDEN LIFE. 211 and peace, and little sanctification ; and is besieged with troubles and is doubtful, and knows not whetliei" his sins be forgiven or no, how shall I know, — whether Christ be my life or n…
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' We shall also appear with him in glory.' We shall appear, and appear with him, and appear in glory with him. Christ himself his glory is in some sort hid now. For though he be king of the church, yet we see what enemies are in the church ; and Satan ruffles* in the church a great while, and the nearer he is to his e…
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And in our whole man the image of God and Christ shall be perfectl}' restored. We shall be like Christ, reserving the difference between the head and the members ; reserving the difference of a natural Son and of sons adopted. He shall be more glorious than we. , We shall be glorious as much as we are capable of. In al…
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And it will put a kind of manner upon all our actions that they shall be acceptable to God. For how should we perform all that comes from us ? All should be done in sincerity, and constantly, and abundantly, and cheer- THE HIDDEN LIFE. 215 fully, readily, and willingly ; for God requires these qualifications in what …
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And be comforted in all the changes of this life, all the changes for the time to come, and in death itself, which is the last change. Are not all degrees to make way for that glorious appearing with Christ ? for the soul at death goes to heaven, and the body shall come after. Why should we be loath to die, when death …
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I speak this the rather, because I would have humble consciences to make use of it in times of desertion, when God seems to be a God that hides himself, when they find no life nor comfort. Yet if they have but grace to believe, they may comfort themselves in this. Well, I have it but from Christ, and he is perfect in g…
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In these ensuing sermons you have variety, the mother of delight ; and such notable descriptions of the person, offices, love, and life of Christ, that by them you may not only be settled in divine assurances to your further * For notices of these well-known patrons of the Puritan clergy, consult any of the Peerages. …
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Thine in him, Arthur Jackson.* Wood Street, November 6. 1638. * For notice of Jackson, see Vol. II. p. 442. — G. THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from, the law of sin and of death. — Rom. VIII. 2. There be four thincfs especially that trouble the peace of …
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' For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sin and of death.' The words are much vexed by expositors («). I will rather speak my own judgment of them, and reconcile them, than dash one man's judgment against another ; for that tends not to edification. ' The law of the Spirit of …
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And we have deserved to be cast into this estate by reason that we left our subordination and dependence upon God, which, being creatures, we should have had. Therefore we turning from God to the creature, God punisheth our rebellion to him with rebellion in oui'selves ; because we 228 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. withdrew…
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But how chanceth it that they do not know and perceive it ? It is because he goeth with the stream of their own corruptions. Indeed, we must make some limitation of this. In some cases the devil doth not move carnal men. They are better than the devil would have them be for the good of the commonwealth and state ; but…
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Now, for this inward soul of man, which is so excellent a thing, fitted by God to cleave to better things, for communion with himself and ever- lasting happiness, for this to be a drudge to base pleasures and profits, to the windy empty things of this world, to vain titles and such like empty things, and to place its h…
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Great persons have a great privilege. What is that ? They shall be greatly tormented. That is all the privilege that I know if they be naught.* Those that shake off all bonds, any earthly privilege and pre- * That is, ' naughty,' = wicked. — G. 232 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. rogative is so far from exempting them from mi…
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Every man hath some Herodias,* some sin or other that he is in bond- age to, till he be in Christ. He cannot in a like measure be given and enthralled to all sins. It is unnecessary ; because one sin servcth another. Many sins serve one great one. Corruption doth not run in all streams in one equality : but it runs ama…
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2. But then after the death of the soul in this world, there is another degree of spiritual death ; which is, ichen the soul leaves the body. Then the soul dies. For then it goes to hell. It is severed for ever from the com- fortable and gracious presence of God, and likewise it wants the comforts it had in this world.…
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236 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. death, unless our second birth, our new birth, make amends for sin, for the baseness of our lirst birth. This prerogative, our spiritual nobleness, is such an estate wherein we are not born, but are born again to it, * to an inheritance immortal,' &c., 1 Peter i. 4. But by nature we are all …
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2. And satisfaction for sin, it must be in that nature that hath sinned. Now man of himself could not satisfy divine justice, being a finite person ; there- fore God the second person became man, that in our nature he might satisfy God's wrath for us, and so free us by giving payment to his divine justice. The death of…
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3. Also enriched it with all r/race that our nature is capable of; for the nature of Christ had this double prerogative above ours : first of all, that blessed mass of flesh, it was knit to be one person with God ; and then, that nature was enriched and ennobled with all graces above ours. And this the Spirit of life d…
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240 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. say, ' Who sliall lay anything to our charge ? ' He that is our surety is dead. Dead '? Nay, risen again ; nay, ascended, and sits at the right hand of God. Therefore now the conscience of any Christian may make that interrogation and bold demand there. It may stand out any that dares to opp…
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Faith is said to do that that Christ doth, because faith lays hold upon Christ. "What faith doth, Christ doth ; and what Christ doth, faith doth. Therefore it hath the same actions applied and given to it that Christ hath. Faith is said to save us. You know it is Christ that saves us. But faith lays hold on Christ that…
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THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEK. 213 and frees me from the dominion of sin. The ohedicncc of Christ frees me from the condemnation of sin, and the Spirit of sanctification frees me from the dominion of sin. This is the freedom of sanctification, which faith lays hold on. ' Whosoever hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his,…
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Learn this then, when we are troubled with anything, set law against law : set the law of the Spirit of life in Christ against all oppositions what- soever ; and let the temptation lie where it will. 1. Let it lie in justification, as n'hen we are te'!)ipted hj Satan to despair for sins, for great si72S. Oh, but then …
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Let us often meditate deeply of Christ, and of ourselves in him ; let us see all our ill in him, and all our good in him : see death overcome, and sin overcome by his death, he being ' made a curse for us,' Gal. iii. 13 : see the law overcome, he being ' made under the law for us,' Gal. iv. 4, 5. When the wrath of God …
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NOTES. " (a) P. 226. — ' The words are mucli vexed by expositors.' For a full exbibition of the vexing' of previous expositors, consult Willet's Hexapla, that is, ' A Sixfold Com- mentarie upon the most Divine Epistle of the holy Apostle St Paul to the Romans,' (folio, 1611); also Elton and Thomas Wilson of Canterbury…
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1. A flood of quality. 2. A (food of estate. Quest. Now therefore what kind of good is this the apostle meaneth ? Ans. He doth not here mean the natural or civil good estate of them that love God, but their spiritual condition in grace, and their glorious estate for the life to come ; for the furthering whereof, wha…
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5. Under the angels all other creatures are liken ise made serviceable for his people's good. Princes in authority are called in Scripture ' nursing fathers * It has not been thought necessary to encumber and confuse tlie text with specific references to tliese and like fragmentary citations of familiar titles and des…
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2. The nest spiritual evil is the corruption of nature remaining in all mankind ; howsoever broken and subdued in the Lord's dear ones. This ■worketh for the best to them after this manner. (1.) First, It serveth to make us see and know ive are kept hi/ God; how that we are not the keepers of our own selves, ' but are…
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2. Now for imvard sins, as anger, covetousness, distrust, and such like, these often prove advantageous to the saints. Their corruptions are a means of their humiliation. Paul and Barnabas having a breach between them, were so exasperated that they forsook each other's company, by which means it came to pass that the c…
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But albeit that God doth seem sometimes to forsake his servants, it is not for their confusion, but for their consolation ; for by this means they come to be poor in spirit, and wonderfully emptied of themselves. And it is very observable that when such as are thoroughly wounded and afflicted inwardly come to recover s…
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8. As for outward evils, they are, first, evils of estate, as want and poverty, which oft falls out to be the portion of God's children, yet are they not any whit the worse hereby, but rather the better in their inner man ; for the less they have in this world, the greater and larger happi- ness shall they partake of i…
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12. Yea, when friends forsake ns, and are false unto us, ' God is a sure help in time of need,' Ps. xxxvii. 39. He is our refuge from one generation to another. Do we not see that in the decay of worldly comforts, God then manifests himself most comfortably to his people ? Doth he not style him- self ' the comforter of…
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2. The second cause why all works together for the best to believers, is the manner of God working in. things, which is by contraries. He bringeth light out of darkness, glory out of shame, and life out of death. We fell by pride to hell and destruction, and must be restored by humiliation to life and salvation. Christ…
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How cometh it to pass that death, which is fearful in itself, cannot hurt us ? The reason is, ' Death is swallowed up in victory ' by his death, 1 Cor. xv. 5-4. It is Christ that sanctifieth all crosses, afflictions, and disgraces to the 204 THE miVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. saints' advantage. The evil of tlicra all is …
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Obj. But some may object, and say, I have been long afflicted, and have had many crosses upon me, and little good do I find by them ; I am never the better, but rather the worse for all. Ans. This may be true thou sayest, but stay a little and consider the event. Howsoever, by reason ' of the bitterness and continuanc…
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Yea, there is no child of God but by experience shall one day feel that howsoever God by his wisdom and mercy can turn every sin to our good, yet it will prove bitter as wormwood in the end ; the pleasure will never answer the smart and vexation that attends it. The contrition and break- ing of thy heart for thy sins c…
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(2.) Again, For the doctrine (f Christian lihert;/. God having given ua lawful recreations and plentiful use of his creatures, they turn all into licentiousness ; and instead of moderate refreshment, they make a daily occupation of sports and games ; instead of a lawful use of the creatures, they run into all excess of…
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Use 1. Whence we learn that cdl wicked men, in the midst of their happi- ness, are most iinliappy, because Ihey turn the sweetest blessings into bitter poison ; for all the gifts of God, without his special gift of using them well, are turned into a curse ; as Balaam had good parts, but they not being sanctified proved…
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THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 271 tlieir happiness, are accursed ; whereas the godly, in the midst of their miseries, are blessed. This doctrine is a ground of understanding divers other places of Scrip- ture, as Ps. xci. 3, the Lord promiseth that he will ' deliver his from the snare of the hunter, and from the no…
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Use 1. And here let all such be admonished hoiv they provoke God's children to cry in their prayers ayaiiist them. For it is better for the wicked that they had all the creatures in heaven and earth against them than the poor saints ; for a few of these will more prejudice them than all the world besides. Come we now …
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In all cases of extremity we should have a double eye : one to look upon our grievances and troubles, and another to look upon the issue and event of them. Why do men in time of dangerous sickness take bitter physic, which is almost death unto them ? Why do they then undergo Buch things as they loathe at other times ? …
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Use 6. And if God turn all things whatsoever to our good, should not we through the xvhole carriaije of our lives chiefly aim at his honour / God writes our names in his book, he numbers our hairs, and bottles up our tears. f He hath a special care of us. Every good deed we do he writeth down to eternity ; yea, if we g…
959 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.