PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 6
Richard Sibbes · 366,494 words · 364 reading sections
Section 241
Taste is the most necessary sense of all, saith a wise searcher of the mysteries of nature : onr life is maintained by taste (6). Every creature Bees not, every creature hears not, but every creature hath taste. You may FOR ETERNAL FOOD. 371 judge of yourselves by your taste and relish ; and if once you have tasted a…
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And let us know that if we do not labour for this meat that brings to this life, look what degree of excellency we have had in the rank of the creatures, the same degree we shall have in misery ; for as the angels in the degree of excellency were the most excellent creatm-es, but being fallen they are in the same degre…
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' The Son of man shall give it you.' You need not fear it, God is become man on purpose to give it you. We may now boldly go to a mediator which is made bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. We should have feared and trembled if he had only been God, but now all grace and comfort is hid in this nature of ours in Chr…
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So you see why Christ is said to be sealed, especially because he is authorised by God the Father, ' made,' ' sent,' ' set forth,' ' whom the Father hath sealed;' that is, the party offended by our sins, he hath sealed and authorised Christ to be a mediator. If this be so, let us learn this use of it, to bless God the…
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And what comes of this, when we receive Christ, and set to our seal that God in the promise of salvation by Christ is true ? Then we having honoured him, he honours us by his Spirit, as the apostle saith, Eph. i. 13, ' In whom, after ye believed, ye were sealed.' So when we believe and set to our seal that God is true,…
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Let me then, I beseech you, como again to re-enforce this exhortation. Take heed you refuse not Christ. Consider with what authority he comes. ' He is sealed.' It is no presumption therefore to receive him, though you be never such sinners, to receive him ; I mean not only to be a priest to reconcile you to God, but to…
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And therefore, if there be any here that have lived in sinful courses, and have a purpose to break them off, that are weary of the government of their lusts, and of Satan that rules them by their lusts, — for all are under one government or other, either under the ' sealed' government of Christ, or FOR ETEENAIi FOOD. …
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So that these two may well stand together, labour and gift. We are taught to pray, * Give us this day our daily bread.' God will give us our daily bread. We must not therefore stand still and do nothing ; but though God will give it, yet he will give it in the use of means, in the use of our lawful callings. So here, G…
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* That is, ' painstaking.' — G. (a) P. 366. — ' Especially are we to make daily use of the death of Christ ; for howsoever the death of Christ be transient in respect of the act of it, as one of the ancients saith ; yet . . . .' The thought is common to Bernard and Augustine. (6) P. 370. — ' Taste is the most necessa…
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What was the end of our blessed Saviour in this his gracious dealing ? * That the love wherewith thou lovest me may be in them, and I in them,* In unfolding of which words, I propounded these general heads, to omit other things. First, That God doth love Christ, because he is the first object of his love, his own image…
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It may be known with an experimental and with an applicatory know- ledge. The next was, that the tcay to knmv God's love to us, is the mani- festing of his name in the gosjiel: that follows by the connection of them two together ; and the last is, Christ heing in us, which I cannot come to at this time. So then now, to…
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We may attain to it. Here is the way, as I shall shew in the next point, * By the declaration of God's name.' For what is faith, which is the work of the gospel and grace of the new covenant, but the apprehension of the love of God in Christ ? It is nothing else ; and therefore we may attain to it in the covenant of g…
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But we must know, that in the covenant of grace now in the gospel, this is not put as a bar of God's love, that I am a sinner, that I have committed TUE MATCHLESS LOVE AND INKEING. 891 any degree of sin wliatsoever. None are shut out but those that will be as they are. And therefore all objections are taken away in …
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I answer, A man may retort that upon Satan the tempter, and upon his own heart. The spirit retorts that upon the flesh : ' God corrects every son, and he is a bastard that hath not correction,' Heb. xii. 8. In this world, to thrive in a course of sin, when a man hath offended God, it is a sign of reprobation rather tha…
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3. Again, We may come to have God's love, by more and more sequester- ing ourselves and our affections from conformity xvith his enemies ; for this helps the other. If we would be like to God, and so come to have him delight and solace himself in us, we must withal labour to be unlike the world and wicked persons, that…
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Ohj. Oh, but I have attended long upon the means, and have prayed, and yet I cannot find the love of God to me. Ans. 1. Wait, wait a while ; all are not called at one hour. Josias was called when he was young, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 2 ; and so Timothy, 2 Tim. THE MATCHLESS LOVE AND INBEING. 895 iii. 15, and Joseph when the…
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If God have kindled love in us, there is no such sweet estate. If it come from God, it will make us digest anything. Love it will put such life in us, that we shall want or suffer anything quietly. When we feel the love of God in us, that he loves us to immortality, that he loves us to life everlasting, to an inheritan…
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Use 1. Do but raise these thoughts in your meditations, irhat a compre- hensive tliincj this is that Christ aims at in his 'praycr, and in his endeavour ; ' I have declared thy name, and I will,' &c. Is not this therefore a main thing that we should aim at, that Christ aims at ? Must not this needs be an excellent sta…
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I speak this the rather, because men go plodding upon duties, and take not a right method. When we find any distemper and deadness of spirit, search what is the cause of it. If it be negligence, irreverence, or any such thing, let us repent, and do the first works. But let us always take this in : ' Lord, shew thyself,…
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The point that I am now to take in hand is this : That Christ doth mani- fest his Father's name, his love, his mercy, his goodness and truth, ' that God's love may be in them, and himself in them.' We see, then, that God's love and Christ do go together. Wheresoever THE MATCHLESS LOTE AND INBEING. 401 his love is in…
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Doct. 2. Christ is in all believers. His further dwelling and discovering himself to believers is the end of this manifestation of God's name in the gospel. Christ is in them, as the vine is in the branches ; as the head is in the members, Christ is in them all. Christ is in all believers. Here is a notable bond of …
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2. Where Christ is, he will drive out all that is contrary. As when he entered into the temple, he drave out the money-changers, and whipped out those corrupt persons there. Mat. i. 12, so, as soon as ever he comes into the soul by his Spirit, out go those lusts, those desires that were there before, worldliness, profa…
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THE MATCHLESS LOVE AND INBEING. 405 and meek hearts, as he had. ' Come, learn of me, for I am humble and meek,' Mat. xi. 29. For where he dwells, I say, and takes up his throne, he alters and changes the disposition in all things to be like his own. For when he comes to the soul, he takes up all the parts thereof, and…
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8. Where the Spirit is, there is often prm/er, as Christ often prayed ; a perpetual endeavour of doing good, as his Spirit in him stirred him to go from place to place to do good. Where his Spirit is, there is holiness. If we consider what a sweet guest Christ is, where he is there is all beauty, work, comfort, strengt…
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Sol. 2. Again, Christ may be veiy near, and dwell in us sometimes, and we see him not : because we may so dwell upon corruption, and be so full [of] grief in affliction, that we forget Christ ; as Mary, who, though Christ was near her, yet could not discern him, her eyes were so full of tears, John XX. 15 ; and as Haga…
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1. Those that care not for the discovery and manifesting of Christ's truth in the [lospel, let them never think to 'entertain Christ into their hearts, for he will come with his word and with his own ordinance ; his word and Spirit always go together. Therefore let this be one chief direction. If we will have Christ to…
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5. And having got enjoyment of communion with God, shut the soul to other things. The comfort of his presence is a heaven upon earth, sweeter than wine, and above all other things to be desired. Take we heed there- fore that we grieve not his good Spirit, and force him to retire himself; that ■we quench not his sweet m…
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412 THE MATCHLESS LOVE AND INBEING. their iuvinciblc spirit ; but in all these things they were more than con- querors, through him that loved them. A sweet state it is. I beseech you, therefore, every day examine whether Christ be in you, and in what measure he is in you ; and labour to give him more room in your he…
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416 TO THE READER, days ; tlioy arc the even and steady walkers. Whereas those that have only a ' form of godUness,' 2 Tim. iii. 5, a sHght tincture — who have only out of novelty and curiosity, or pride and ambition, or other self ends, pro- fessed religion — will prove giddy and unconstant, ' like clouds carried abo…
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Thy soul's and thy faith's servants in the work of the ministry for Jesus' sake, Simon Ash.* James Nalton.* Joseph Church.* * For notices of these names, see Vol. IV. page 311. — G. VOL. VI. Dd A HEAVENLY DISCOURSE BETWEEN CHRIST AND MARY, AFTER HIS RESURRECTION. Jesus sailh vnto her, Mary. She turned herself, an…
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' They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.' ' They have taken away.' She instanceth none. And when she had thus said, she turneth her back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. The angels hold their peace when Christ speaks, and it is their place so to do. But she knew …
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Jesus could not endure [to keep] her longer in this perplexed condition. He was too merciful ; and therefore saith, ' Mary.' She turned to him, and saith, ' Rabboni,' which is to say. Master. And Jesus said to her, ' Mary.' • The words are a sweet and loving intercourse between Christ and Mary. In a seasonable time, …
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She might well call him ' Rabboni,' for he was ' Master of masters,' * Rabboni of rabbonis,' the angel of the covenant, the great doctor of the church, the great ' Gamaliel,' at whose feet all must sit and be taught. So you see what sense and affections are in these little words. The ful- ness of heart that was in this…
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The Christian soul saith, ' Thou art my God ;' ay, but he saith first, ' I am thy salvation,' Ps. xxxv. 3. As Austin saith, Non frustra elicit anima, Deus salus tua : when God saith, ' I am thy salvation,' it is easy for the soul to say, ' Thou art my God' (e). And this may teach us in our devo- tions, when we are to d…
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4. Christ doth this to set a better p)rice upon his presence xvhcn he comes; to make his presence highly valued when he doth discover himself. Desiderata dia mar/is pi a cent : things long desired please more sweetly. And things, when wanted, are ingratiated to us, as warmth after cold, and meat after hunger ; and so i…
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* In margin here, ' Mat. xxviii. 1, Mark xvi. 9, Luke xxiv. 1, John xx. 25.' — G. A HEAVENLY CONFERENCE. 427 himself, if we come worthily ? and will not he know us then ? Oh, that is far more worth than the world's good, to know us then and to call us by our names ! Therefore, I beseech you, be acquainted with Chris…
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This verse containeth Christ's prohibition, or Christ's commission or charge. His prohibition, * Touch me not ;' and his reason, ' for I am not yet ascended to my Father.' His charge, ' Go to my brethren ;' and then directeth what to say to them : ' I ascend to my Father, and your Father ; to my God, and your God.' T…
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But what is the reason ? ' Touch me not;/o/- 1 am not yet ascended to my Father.' That seemeth to be a strong reason. But it seemeth to be a contrary reason. Touch me not now, when my body is present ; but touch me when I am gone, and removed out of sight of all flesh. Touch me not now, when thou mayest touch me ; and …
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God hath a wonderful respect to others. It is strange that Christ should say, ' Go and be reconciled to thy brethren, and then ofier thy sacrifice,' Mat. V. 24. As if he would have his own sacrifice neglected, rather than we should not be reconciled to others. And so a work of charity and love is preferred before an aj…
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Ohj. Ay, but saith the poor soul, I that have been so sinful, so unworthy a wretch, shall I have comfort in this, that Christ is my brother, and I am Christ's ? I cannot do it. Ans. 1. I profess thou canst not do it, * flesh and blood must not teach it thee,' thou must be taught by the Spirit of Christ. But consider h…
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(3.) Again, Make this use of it, Christ is our brother, and will not he take our parts ? Absalom was a disobedient son, yet Absalom would not let his sister Tamar be abused ; he would be revenged of that. And will Christ VOL. VI. EC 434 A HEAVENLY COXFEIIENCE. suffer his sister, his spouse, his church to be abused l…
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First, Mary Magdalene, a woman, a sinner, is used in the great work of an apostle, to be an apostle to the apostles. I would there were that love in all men to teach what they know ; and that humility in others, to be instructed in what they know not. It were a sweet conjunction if it were so. She was a mean person to …
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This sheweth the dignity of a Christian when he is once in Christ, the excellent, superexcellent, transcendent glory of a Christian. When they told our Saviour Christ that his mother and brethren were to speak with him, saith he, ' They that hear my word and do it, they are my brother, and sister, and my mother,' Luke …
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438 A HEAVENLY CONFERENCE. from earth to the ffravo ; and now he is risen, he is all in haste, ho makcth no stay, because his manner of despatch is, to help and comfort by the ministry of others. Go quickly ; do not stand embracing of me, but ' go and tell my brethren.' Obj. But why then do not we find comfort sooner…
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Beloved, let us not lose the comfort of the constancy and immuta- bility of Christ's love. Let us conceive that all the sweet links of salvation are held on God's part strong, not on ours ; the firmness is on God's part, not on ours. Election is firm on God's part,_ not on ours. We choose indeed as he chooseth us, but …
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What is the reason ? It is sufficient to a gracious soul that it is thus ; it is the course of God. But there be reasons to give satisfaction. Reason 1. First, The love of Christ to a poor, disconsolate, afflicted soul is most seasonable. When they have relapsed and dealt unkindly with Christ, then Christ not only for…
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But this belongeth to those that be broken-hearted, that can prize and value Christ. They that go on in presumptuous courses shall find Christ in another manner of majesty. They shall find him as a judge whom they despised as a brother; and they that will not come in and subject them- selves to his mercy, they shall fi…
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He ascendeth. He implieth that he was risen. That w-as past, and therefore he nameth it not. All Christ's mind was on ascending. Those that are risen together with Christ, their mind is all on ascension, all on heaven. And this is one main reason, because where anything is imper- fect, there the spirit resteth not till…
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* Qu. 'will there'?— Ed. A HEAVENLY CONFERENCE. 445 2. Yet more particularly, those that ascend ■with Christ, they that are in heaven and they that are on earth do the same thinf/s, though in different degrees and measure. What do they in heaven ? There they meddle not with defilements of the world ; and so, though a…
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6. The last end is, that he might shew that our salvation is exactly wrought, that God is perfectly satisfied to the full, else he should never iave risen, much less ascended to heaven. And therefore if we once believe in Christ for forgiveness of sins, and yet say, I doubt of salvation, it is all one as if you should …
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448 A HEAVENLY CONFERENCE. be cancelled. He hath performed the conditions on his part ; and there- fore make it good on thine own part. And being-:'- the Spirit hath shamed thee for thy sins, what can the devil say ? What saith Paul ? ' It is God that justifieth ; who shall condemn ?' Rom. viii. 33. If God, the party …
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There is not a Christian but will be in himself apprehensive of being thrown into hell every day. There is a spring of corruption in him, and should God take a forfeiture of -= his daily rebellions, his conscience tells him it were just. And therefore we must every day live upon this branch of his priestly office, his …
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Now this relation of a father teacheth us as what we may expect from God, so what we ought to return to God again, and how we ought to carry ourselves one towards another. I. What u-e may expect from God being a Father. (1.) We may expect whatsoever a child may expect from a father. God taketh not upon him empty name…
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(4.) And with provisions, protection likeivise ; and therefore make this use of it. In the temptations of Satan, lie under the wing of our Father. Wo have a Father to go to ; make use of him, make use of his protection, that God would shield us, that he would be a tower, as ho is a tower, and ' the righteous man may fl…
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454 A HEAVKXLY COXFEEENCE. it. I ratlier leave it to your admiration, that you may sec what use to make of this sweet relation of a father. (1.) But we must know, that eveiy one cannot say, * my Father,' for there are a company of men in the world that may say, in some respects, ' our Father ;' hut in other respects …
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I desire you therefore to remember this. It is the first sermon of our Saviour Christ after his resurrection, and therefore forget not to think of God as a Father and Christ as a Brother. Indeed, whatsoever comfort is in any relation, God and Christ have taken it on them. A father is more comprehensive than any other t…
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It is from his own bowels, and not any goodness in us, that he loveth ns. He loveth the work of his own Spirit, his own nature, that that is of his own. Though the child hath many infirmities, yet the Father seeth the nature of the child, and therefore loveth it. God seeth his image of holiness in us in some poor measu…
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If I were to speak to persons of quality and great parts, as I am to speak to mean, let them be put in mind of their condition. Nothing should raise us up so high, as to forget the everlasting relation of brother. Infirmity should not so far prevail with us, as to forget that which the children of God have to eternity.…
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2. Likewise we may know it h)j our sympathy and antipathy — our sympathy with them that be good, and antipathy to that which is naught.* There is a love of that which is good. So things, good things, are con- natural to a good man. There is a relish in good company and good * That is, ' naughty,' = wicked. — G. 460 …
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Our blessed Saviour fetcheth the comfort of our Father from this, that God is his Father first, and so to join both together; that God is our God, because he is his God first. It is a point very considerable, that whatso- ever comfort we look for from God, and in God, we must see it in Christ first before we see it in …
1,015 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.