PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 6
Richard Sibbes · 366,494 words · 364 reading sections
Section 181
We pass therefore from the doctrine here delivered, ' Blessed are the mourners,' and come to the reason of it, ' for they shall be comforted.' Let us join these together, and see how they do depend. The point will be thus much — Doct. 1. That spiritual ynourning it ends in spiritual mirth. He that can mourn spirituall…
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1. The first reason is drawn from the nature of sorroiv and mourninfj. Sorrow is a kind of an imperfect thing, as it were. It is not made for itself, but for an higher and for a further end, to do service to something else, as it fares with all those that we call the declining affections. Hatred is servant to love ; fe…
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SPIRITUAL MOURNING. 283 tions, as every aflfection is perfected from the goodness of the object about which he works. (3.) Thirdly, The sorrow of the righteous is better than the sorrow of the wicked in regard of the manner of their mourning. For the mourning of the righteous is a composed kind of sorrow. He mourns …
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3. A third reason may be drawn from the cause of our spiritual mourning and spiritual joy ; for these are fruits that grow both from the same root. Spiritual joy and spiritual mourning, they come from the same fountain, from the same Spirit. The same Spirit it causeth us to weep over him whom we have pierced, and it ca…
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(1.) First, This joy is a more solid joy than the joy of the ivicked. The wicked man rejoiceth in face, but not in heart ; the wicked's joy is but a blaze, it is but a flash ; his rejoicing is like the crackling of thorns under a pot, that the Holy Ghost tells as makes a blaze and is gone in an instant. 286 SPIRITUAL …
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(2.) Again, Is it so, that the Lord withdraws himself in his ordinances, that ive hear not the voice of his word, that we see not our signs ? ' There is not a prophet among us to tell us how long,' Ps. Ixxiv, 9 ; let us then set ourselves to mourn, as the church in that psalm. ' Lord, we see not our signs.' Lo, how a m…
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(1.) First, I must, because God bids me, because the time calls for it. Therefore I must. Because my own need requires it, therefore I must weep. I find I am dead, and drowsy, and sluggish ; and carelessness and sleepiness will creep upon me except I stir up myself to mourn. And then, as I must, so (2.) I maij. David,…
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VOL. VI. T 2 CO SPIKITUAL MOURNING. Are we, my brethren, such as do luourn, and mourn spiritually? Do we mourn for the breach of God's Sabbath? for the contempt of his word? for the abuse of his sacraments ? for the contempt of his name ? Do we mourn for the church that is under captivity, under the sword ? Do we mou…
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Obj. But how shall I know that my mourning is spiritual mourning, when I cannot mourn for sin ? I have abundance of tears for losses, and for crosses, and unkindnesses ; but I am dry, and barren, and tearless, when it comes to matter of sin and offence, and trespass against God. Is this well, that a man should have tea…
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Now, then, if you have such a mourning as this, that you do mourn for spiritual things ; and you so mourn that your mourning tit you for prayer, that it make way for praise and thanksgiving ; then take comfort in your mourning, and know that it will end well. After night will come a day ; after darkness there will come…
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* till now,' in the evangelist's time, so posterity may say, * Until now,' from the first coming of Christ till his second coming. While there is a gospel preached, which is the ministry of the Spirit, the Spirit will be working ; and there are such glorious things in the gospel, that there will be violence offered. So…
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Which should teach us with what minds to converse in the hearing and reading of these things with heavenly aflections. And it shews likewise why worldlings and base people are no more affected with the things of the gospel, because it is * the kingdom of heaven.' If it were of the world, we should have it sought with e…
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Third, It is a state likewise of ylory and excellency. But it is a spiritual glory, and therefore it consists together with outward baseness and mean- ness. It is a glorious state to be the ' Son of God,' to be ' heirs of heaven,' VIOLENCE VICTOEIOUS. 299 heirs of all things in Christ ; by the Spirit of Christ in hi…
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I. First, Betwixt us and the blessed state we aim at there is much opposi- tion ; and therefore there must be violence. The state of the church here, the state of grace and the enjoyment of the means of grace, it is a state of opposition. Good persons and good things they are opposed in the world. Christ rules in this …
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HI. Again, God will have us get these things with violence, that ive may set a greater jmce on them when we have them. When we have things that are gotten by violence, that are gotten hardly. Oh we value them much ! Heaven is heaven then. Things that are hardly gotten and hardly kept are highly prized. rV. Again, The …
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To search a little deeper, do hut compare your courses toward these good things of heaven with your courses toivards the world. If there be hope of preferment, the doors of great men are sure to suffer violence with favourites. The courts of justice suffer violence to have our right in earthly things. The stages and su…
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We see then the disposition of true professors, they are violent in respect of heavenly thinys. Those therefore that are not earnest in the cause of religion, when the state of thinys requires it, they have no reliyion in them, they are not in the state of y race. We must be earnest, first of all, against our own sins.…
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VOL. VI. U 806 VIOLENCE vicToraous. The third thing is the success. * The violent take it hy force.' The earnestness of aftcction and violence, it is successful. * They take il.' The good things of God, they are here compared to a fort, or to a well- fenced and well-armed city, strengthened with hulwarks and muniti…
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It is little comfort to hear of the excellency and necessity of these hea- venly things, if there were not hope of them. Hope stirs up diligence and endeavour in the things of this world. What makes men adventure to the Indies, east and west ? They hope for a voyage that shall enrich them all their life. Hope in doubtf…
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VIOLENCE VICTORIOUS. 8oa ' The sluggard thinks himself wiser than many men that can give a reason,' Ps. xxvi. IG. The sluggish discreet* Christian, I warrant you, he hath reasons for what he doth ! It is not good to be too earnest ! It will incur the disfavour of such a man or such a man ! I shall be accounted so and…
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The last point is the date of time from whence this kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. ' From the days of John Baptist until now.' Quest. Was there not a kingdom of heaven that suffered violence before John Baptist's time? Did the kingdom of God begin then? Was Christ a king, and was heaven opened only then ? Ans…
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312 VIOLENCE VICTORIOUS. that we have the word of God to rule our consciences, and that other matters are not pressed on us but as matters of decency and order. Alas, if we were in bondage to those proud popish wretches, our consciences would be enthralled to a world of snares. Last of all, * From the days of the Bap…
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Hence, again, we may see that popish spirits are witty- in opposing the unfolding of the gospel in the ministry, especially where -there is conscience and skill to unfold Christ plainly. They know when Christ is opened, all their fopperies and inventions will grow base. The more Christ is un- folded, the more people wi…
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NOTES. (a) P. 300. — ' As Luther said well, " The more violent the adversaries were, the more free and bold was he." ' An often-repeated saying of his ' Table-talk ' and letters. Cf. note uu, Vol. III. page 533 ; also Vol. I. page 126. (6) P. 311. — ' As wo see in the Coiuicil of Trent.' For history of this celebrate…
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* And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude,' &c. You see here, however, Christ lay in the cratch,* in the manger, yet not- withstanding there were some circumstances that shewed the greatness of his person, that he was no ordinary person. He lay in the cratch indeed, but the wise men came and adored him ; and…
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(4.) An host of angels, it shews likewise their emploijment. An host is for defence or offence. That is the employment of angels here below espe- cially, for the defence of the church, and for the offence of the enemies of the church. It is a great comfort to the church and children of God. The church is in the midst o…
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ANGELS ACCLAAIATIONS. 321 and devilish-minded men present to hurt us, God hath a multitude, an host of angels as present to defend us ; nay, as himself is everywhere, so in the midst of his church he is present more than angels can be. He is not only among us, but he is in us by his Spirit, to comfort and strengthen …
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Let us labour tlaerefore for dispositions angelical; that is, such as may delight in the good of others, and the good of other meaner than ourselves. And learn this also from them: shall they glorify God for our good espe- cially? and shall we be dull and cold in praising God on our own behalf? Shall they come ' sudde…
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324 angels' acclamations. be glorified in the church. He shall alway have some to glorify him for Christ, and especially for his incarnation. * Glory to God on high.' Glory is excellency, greatness, and goodness, with the eminency of it, so as it may be discovered. There is a fundamental glory in things, that are no…
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Likewise here is justice, justice fully satisfied in Christ. He became our surety who is God as well as man. If no creature can satisfy God, God can ; when the second person took our nature, and was our surety, and died for us, he was the glory of his justice. And of his holiness, that he would be no otherwise satisfi…
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angels' acclamations. 827 but Christ appeared ; and when he appeared it was as if grace and love had been incarnate, and took a bod3\ So that grace and mercy most of all shines in the incarnation of Christ. I need not clear the point further, but only make a little use of it, and so end. Doth the grace, and love, and…
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I beseech you, consider of these things. ' Repent, for the kingdom of God is near,' saith the Baptist, Mat. iv. 17. "W'liat ! shall we therefore give carnal liberty to all looseness, as if Christ came to bring Christians liberty to licentiousness ? Shall we, instead of repenting, run further and further into guilt, and…
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(1.) First, then, we hold tune with the blessed angels in giving glory to * Cf. Ezek. xxii. 28.— G. 330 angels' acclamations. God, when u-e exalt God in our souls above all creaturea and things in the uvrld ; when we lift him up iu his own place, and let him be in our souls, as he is in himself, iu the most holy. God…
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(4.) Again, We glorify God in Christ, ivhen ice see such glory and mercy of Christ, as it doth transform lis and change us, and from an inward change we have alway a blessed disposition to glorify God, as I shewed out of 2 Cor. iii. 18.* This is the difference between the glass of the gospel and the glass of the law an…
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(6.) Again, If we apprehend this glorious mystery of Christ in the gospel aright, it trill tcork in us a ylorious joy ; for joy is a disposition especially that fits us to glorify God. Then we are fit to * glorify God,' when our hearts are enlarged with joy ; when we think of God in Christ ; when we think of the day of…
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Now, from these two veils that hinder the glory of God, there come other hindrances ; for the soul of man will wonder and admire at some- what. It will have somewhat in the eye of it. Hereupon, not seeing or 834 angels' accla.m \tions. not believing the mercy, and goodness, and love of God, and the excellent prerogat…
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Ans. When the soul is thus exercised, then it will be fit to ' [/lorify God.'' When it is in this frame, it will think itself too good for any base service of sin. Eagles will not catch at flies. When the soul is lift up to con- sider God's love and mercy in Christ, will it be catching at every base thing in this world…
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Now we are to draw near to God in the sacrament ; and the nearer to God, the more we honour him. Who honours God most ? Surely Christ, because he is so near him, being God and man in one person ; and next to him the blessed angels ' glorify God.' They are near him. Therefore, in Isa. vi. 2, they * cover their faces,' i…
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The reason is, peace comes from righteousness. Christ is first the ' King of righteousness,' and then ' King of peace ;' righteousness causeth peace. Now, unless the soul be assured of righteousness in Christ, it can have no peace. What saith the Virgin Mary ? * My soul doth mag- nify the Lord, and my spirit rejoiceth …
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Then if we be at peace with God, all other peace will follow ; for good subjects will be at peace with rebels, when they are brought in subjection to their king, and all join in one obedience. Therefore the angels are brought to God again by Christ. And so for men, there is a spirit of union between them. The same Spi…
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This should teach us, first, that whatsoever intercourse we have with God the Father, we should take Christ, take our Benjamin, our Beloved, with us. _ We must not offer sacrifice without the High Priest. Let us offer nothing to God without Christ. There is no intercourse between God and us, till we be reconciled in Ch…
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to obtain ^ fcacc,' he r/ircs a spint of application to improve that peace, to im- prove ' Christ, the prince of peace,' as their oxm. For there is a mutual commerce between God and man, who is an understanding creature ; and there is nothing that God doth for man, if we look to the general and head of benefits, but th…
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4. A Christian that hath made his ' peace ' with God, will never allow him- self ill any sin against conscience, because he knows sin is odious in itself, loathsome to God, and hurtful to his soul ; therefore he will not be in league with any sinful, unjust course. What ! to be in league with God, and to be at ' peace …
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In the next place, to give a few directions to maintain this peace actually and continually every day. 1. To walk with God, and to keep our daily peace with God, it requires a great deal of watchfulness over our thoughts, — for he is a Spirit, over our words and actions. A¥atchfulness is the preserver of peace. Where …
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346 angels' acclamations. thera not abuse the patience of Goc], and think to do it afterward ; for that is the way to harden the heart more and more. And this Scripture puts an cilcetual argument iuto the hearts of all that are in ill terms with God, that have not made their peace, or that have had peace and have brok…
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5. As for the devils, they will be ready to be tormentors. They that are incentives to sin will be tormentors for sin afterwards. 6. As for the church, what comfort can a wicked man look for from the church, whom he hath despised, and whose ministry he hath rejected ? 7. And for the damned spirits, they are all in th…
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* Good will towards men.' Divers copies have it otherwise, * On earth peace to men of good will.' Some have it, ' Good will towards men.' The sense is not much diffe- angels' acclamations. 349 rent.* Peace on earth, * To men of God's good will, of God's good pleasure.' That God hath a pleasure to save, or ' good wil…
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And then whatsoever good thing we have in Christ, it comes freely too. He that gave Christ freely, shall he not * with him give us all things too ? ' Ptom. viii. 32. Then the very grace to keep the covenant, repentance and faith, they are the gift of God. ' I will take away your stony heart, and give you new hearts, a…
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Then if we consider ourselves, this must be so. Alas ! we are not objects of God's love in ourselves, nor cannot be ; but in some other that is loved first. For what are we ? And what is the glory to which God loves us ? To love such as we to such glory, and to free us from such misery due, it must be by another founda…
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God delights in obedience more than sacrifice. God's people, that he delights in, they yield their bodies and souls a sacrifice to God : Rom. xii. 1, ' They will seek out what is well-pleasing and acceptaWe to God.' God accepts them in Christ, and he is acceptable to them in Christ Jesus, and they seek out what pleaset…
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If these things will not move you, then let all men know, that live in a sinful condition, that they had better have lived in any part of the world than in these glorious times and places of light ; for when they hear the love of God in Christ laid open to them, if they will come in and receive Christ, and cast themsel…
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To conclude all with this one motive, the lovlmj -kindness of God ; when we have it once, it is no barren, complimental kindness. It is a loving- kindness that reacheth from everlasting to everlasting, from God's love in choosing to his love in glorifying us. It is a love that reacheth to the filUng of nature with all …
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LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Nicholas Bourne and Rapha Harford, 1639. THE FRUITFUL LABOUR FOR ETERNAL FOOD. Lahour not for the meat that j)ensheth, hut for the meat that endureth to ever- lastinff life, xchich the Son of man shall give you: for him hath God the Father sealed. — John VI. 27- Our blessed Saviour was m…
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FOE ETEKNAi FOOD, 361 I Nay, to raise it a little higher, learning and knowledge, if it be only of perishing things, is food that perisheth ; for as the frame of nature and the civil frame of the world must have an end and perish, so the knowledge of natural and civil things must needs be perishing also. And to say …
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And again, we should not pass * to neijlect auij earthhj thinrj, to fjaiti advantage of our soids, because they are perishing things. "We should force ourselves to contentment in the loss of earthly things for the gain of spiritual. The loss of things perishing is an easy matter. We lose things that will perish whether…
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864 THE FRUITFUL LABOUR But before I come to enforce the act or duty which our Saviour here exhorts unto, I must unfold the object of that act : what is meant here by the ' meat that endures to everlasting life.' The 'meat that endures to everlasting life' is our blessed Saviour Christ Jesus, as he is contained and …
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In a word, whatsoever is in Christ is for our good. He is all mine ; his life is mine ; his death is mine ; his resurrection is mine ; his ascension is mine ; all is mine. He is expended and laid open for my good. That is the first. Again, As in the bodily life there is a stomach, a jjoiver to work out of the meat tha…
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But wherein lieth the difierence between this meat, this food of the soul, and other meat ? In these things. First of all, Christ, as he is from heaven, so all the graces and comforts that irc have by him, are all from heaven, and they carry us to heaven. All the other things are earthly. Secondly, All earthly food d…
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3()8 TUE FRUITFUL LABOUR from him spiritual strcnp;th. "When in our daily exercise we shall see the continual need we have of pardon for daily sins, of comfort and strength against daily corruptions and infirmities, this will make us feed on Christ and on the promises made in him — not only on the promise of forgivene…
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Again, secondly. We may know that we have tasted Christ, and fed on him, and on the good things that are by him, when we are strengthened by our feeding ; when U'e are strengthened to duties ; strengthened against tenta- tions* and against corruptions. Thou sayest thou believest on Christ, and hast made him thine own ;…
900 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.