PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 7
Richard Sibbes · 412,687 words · 416 reading sections
Section 1
X K Elizabethan Bookseller NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES. PUEITAN PERIOD. BY JOHN 0. MILLEE, D.D., LISCOXiN COLLEGE ; HOSOKABY CANON OP WOECESTBE ; EECTOE OP ST MAETIN'S, BIBUINQBiiL THE WOEKS OF RICHARD SIBBES, B.D. VOL. VII. COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION. W, LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, C…
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For Sibbes, then, is not claimed the title of 'great' — so much abused, and indeed vulgarised — in the world's meaning. Weighed again.st contemporaries — Shakespeare, Bacon, Milton — he has no awful crown of genius. Placed beside other divines, Church and Puritanf he lacks the orient splendour of Jeremy Taylor, the mas…
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Vsi- 1. It should enforce this excellent duty, that considering we have no long continuance hero, therefore, while wo are here, to do that ivherefore xie come into the irorld. As a factor, that is sent into a place to provide such goods heforehand, let us consider that here we arc sent to get into a state of salvation,…
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What a misery is this, that these souls of ours shall have a being when the things wherein we placed our happiness, and abused our souls to gain them, they shall have an end ! The souls of such men that seek the things of this life shall have a being in eternal misery. Indeed, so it is ; for these souls of ours, the sa…
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BAL.VAM S WISH. / gether ' for ever with the Lord.' I might enlarge the point much. It is a comfortable meditation ; and before I pass it, let us make some use of it. If godly men be blessed and happy, not only before death, in the right and title they have to heaven, but in death, because then they are invested into…
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Again, for another end God reveals to them the excellent estate of his children sometimes, tn keep them in better order, to awe them, that they be not\open enemies to the church, but may Jo yood service; for conceiting that there is such a happiness, and that perhaps they may partake of it, they will not carry themselv…
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(4.) Where desires are in truth, the party that cherisheth those desu-es, icill he idlling to have all help from others to have his desire accomjjlished. If a man desire to demolish a place, if any will come and help him down with it, or if any man desire to weed his ground, he that will help him, he will thank him for…
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BALAAM S WISH. 11 The three worthies of David brake through the host, and got the water of Bethel for David: * Oh that I had of the water of Bethel,' 2 Sam. xxiii. 15. So where there are strong desires they are like David's worthies, they carry the soul through all impediments, they grow stronger and stronger, and ar…
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lUit to come to an use of direction. How may we so carry ourselves, as we may have a spring of blessed desires, a spring of holy desires, that may comfort us, that we may have our inteiest and portion in the state of God's people? That we may have these desires, let us desire of God the spirit of revela- tion. Desires…
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And because desires are fickle and fading of themselves unless there be some art in helping of them, therefore let us add to these things a daily course of renewing of our covenant with God, that this day, as God shall enable me, I have a constant purpose against all sin, I will regard no iniquity in my heart, I will h…
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THE TJNPEOSPEKOUS BUILDEE. VOL. VII. THE UNPROSPEROUS BUILDER. NOTE. ' The Unprosperous Builder ' is another of the sermons from ' Evangelical Sacrifices' (4to, 1640). Its separate title-page is given below.* G. * THE VNPEOSPEROVS BVILDER. A Sermon preached upon the 5"' of November, in remembrance of Our Delive…
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In the New Testament we are commanded to bless and not to curse. It is a common fault upon every distemper to fall a cursing ; and ofttimes it lights, as an arrow shot upwards, upon the head of the curser. We are people of God's blessing, all true believers; and we should delight in blessing. Having felt the blessing o…
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I come to the specification of the curse, wherein it stands : * He shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born.' If any man will be so venturous to build it up again, as one Hiel did, in 1 Kings xvi. 34, if any man will be so audacious, he shall do it with the *AZ THE UNPKOSPEROUS BUILDER. peril of the life o…
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But, thirdly, which is very likely another reason that moved God, — that we may justify God in all our sentence that we give of him, — he took them away, because they imitated their father in ill ; and God hath a liberty to strike when he will, when there is cause ; and whom he will, he will spare for so many generatio…
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There are another sort of men that raise up Jericho, that revive all the heresies that were damned to hell by the ayicient Councih. The heresy of Pclagius was damned to hell by the ancient councils. The African coun- cils, divers of them, divers synods, wherein Augustine himself was a party, they condemned Pelagius's h…
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They deal as the magicians of Egypt. When Moses came to do wonders, they imitated him in all the rest, except in one. So they strengthen them- selves much in imitating the Protestants. We labour to build the walls of Jerusalem, they imitate us in building the walls of Jericho. We preach to shake off drowsiness, and the…
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4. And in all the dark corners of the land to set up lights that may shine; for these owls fly in the dark. They cannot endure the light of the gospel by any means. They see the breath of God's mouth is too hot for them ; and they must be consumed at length by that, by the preaching of ihe gospel. Not with the sword, b…
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Must not this be a cursed endeavour, when we go about to build that THE UNPEOSPEKOUS BUILDER. 29 that we ourselves have vowed to pull down ? when we go about to raise that that we have formerly destroyed by our own vows ? As Saint Paul saith, Gal. ii. 18, * If I again build the things I have destroyed, I make myself …
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And how will God take this at the hour of death ? Thou that art a care- less, drowsy hearer of the word of God, and a liver contrary to the word of God, how will God take this at thee, at the hour of death, when thy con- science will tell thee that thy life hath been a practice of sin, a strengthening of corruption ? T…
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Let us every one labour to get out of the state of nature, to break off our wicked lives, and to get into Christ the blessed seed, and then we shall be blessed, we shall be made free, free from the curse of nature and of sin. Let us renew our covenants against all sin, and make conscience to be led by the Spirit of Chr…
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The old man Barzillai is now upon his answer in the words read, who doth, 1. First, very modestly and mannerly put off the king's motion to him. 2. And then next he tenders and pirefers a suit of his own. For the king's motion, that he should turn courtier, Barzillai puts off very finely, as you may see in the text. …
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Now from all these generals, sundry particular instructions might be * That is, ' security.' — G. THE VANITY OF THE CEEATUKE. 37 raised. But I perceive the time hath prevented me; therefore we will briefly handle a point or two, and so for this time cease. 1. First of all, in the first place, we see that Barzillai h…
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1. It is needful for the preventing of evil. 2. And it is useful for the obtaining of good. Bcason 1. Thcuc crils vill be hereby prevented. (1.) The constant thoughts of death and mortality ivill tie i(s to our good behaviour, that we shall not offer any injustice, any hard measure, to any man. Whereas let death be o…
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(4.) Yea, this thought of mortality is that that wUl make onQ prepare for death. A man that resolves he must die, he goes about to set his house in order, to set his heart in order, to set all in order, and prepare now for that guest that is so near approaching. So that whether we look to the evils that are prevented,…
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* That is, • mark' in the centre of the ' butt.'-G. J That is, ' negatives.'-G. T John XIV. 2 — G. THE VANITY OF THE CREATURE. 41 to do this in the greatest privation of all, in matter of death. A man is utterly unwilling, utterly unable. This argues he hath no mind to see death, nor no will to salute it. A71S. 2. B…
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Preparation to death. For thy house, for thy persons, goods, or chil- dren, look thou set them in order. First, For thy persons, dispose of thy children as Barzillai doth here. Dispose of thy family, of thy kindred, place them in callings, dispose of them for thy habitation. As Isaac and Jehoshaphat, and others in Scr…
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Obj. If any man object, and say. How can this be, sith the soul of a man is no material thing, and it is the soul that sees, and the soul that hears, and not the body ; and, therefore, why should the seeing, and hearing, and these senses decay ? Ans. The answer is very easy. The soul doth these things, but it useth th…
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THE VANITY OF THE CEEATUEE. 45 Thirdly, Labour to exercise and to stir up those graces of the Sjnrit that Christ hath bestoived on ns ; and so much as faith lives, and as patience lives, and as charity lives, and the graces of God's Spirit live in us, so much we live, and live that life that shall never be determined-…
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Ohj. Ay, but nature is propped up with art. Ans. It may be so for a time, but that is patchery. It may be for a time. If natm-al delights fail, much more will artificial ; if true fire can- not warm a man, and give him relief, painted fire cannot do it. But so it is that natural and artificial things fail in time. Let…
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1, David's perplexed estate ; and, 2, His recovery out of it. His perplexity is laid down in these words : ' Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul ? ' &c. His recovery out of it is first by questioning with him- self : ' Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul ? ' and then by a charge laid upon his soul : ' Trust in God ;' and …
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discoueagement's kecoyery. 53 troubled ; therefore, when Christians exceed in anything, they do it not as Christians, but as they are men overcome of their passions. Quest. What is the ground why casting down and disquieting is a sin ? Ans. 1. Because it doth turn to the reproach of relif/ion and God himself, as if …
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Thus, when vanity goes before, there will come vexation after. There- fore when men do set upon doing any good, or suffering for good, by their own strength, and trust not in God for a constant supply, this moves God to take away his support, and then they fall most shamefully. Nay, when a man trusts in himself, and in…
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(2.) There is nature under the ' spirit of bondage,' which we call * the old man.' 56 discouragement's recovery. (3.) There is the * new man,' framed by the ' Spirit of God,' which doth strive against the corruption of his nature; for nature cannot but be troubled in alHictions. This we see in Adam in his innocency ;…
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As, namely, because it is an hard thing. For there is an affection of nature, and an affection of rebellion, and strong motions, that keep the soul in such a thraldom that it cannot fully know itself; and for a man to know all things, and not to know himself, what a miserable thing is it ! What! to look altogether abro…
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These things considered, the Spirit of God doth well to call us to ques- tion with ourselves, to give a reason for that we do, an-d then to censure ourselves, as David in another place did : ' How foolish was I, like a beast,' Ps. Ixxiii. 22.* And so, I beseech you, when you are tempted to any sin, then say, What a bas…
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Quest. Well, in a word, how shall we know if we have this rest and trust in God or no ? Ans. By this which I have said ; for if we trust in God, then we will be quiet, for faith hath a quieting power. Therefore, if thou canst stay thyself, and rest upon God for provision, for protection, for all that helps thee from g…
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Quest. What ground hath this holy man for this waiting ? Ans. He is my present help and my God, he is my salvation and my God. The word is 'salvations:' he hath more salvations than one (h). Therefore though we be troubled with poverty, shame, or any other afflic- tion, yet God is salvations and helps. Consider this, …
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discouragement's eecoveet. 63 changes in thyself, why shouldst thou be discouraged or disquieted in any state whatsoever ? God is thine to do thee good. Use 2. Again, Here is a ground of coynfort against all losses whatsoever. The world, and worldly men, may strip us of these earthly things, vex our bodies, and restr…
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* It is Amos (iii. 3j, not Solomon, who says this. — G. NOTES. (a) P. 53. ' The word in the original shews it is the nature of sorrow,' &c. More exactly the rendering is. ' Why wilt thou cast down,' &c., = dejection, self-rebuked. (b) P. Gl. ' Salvation.' See Note /, Vol. I. p. 294. ' G. THE SAINT'S HAPPINESS. VOL…
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Last of all, from the connection of this text with the former words, observe, Doct. [Fifth,] That the course of the children of God is a course contrary to the stream of the world. ' They withdraw away from thee, and shall perish,' saith the prophet, but ' it is good for me to draw near ;' as if he had said, Let other…
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70 THE saint's happiness. praise him : for this is the work of the souls departed, and of the angels in heaven, that are continually near unto him. And thus much for the opening of the words. The prophet here saith, ' It is good for me.' How came he to know this ? Why, he had found it by experience, and by it he was t…
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For use hereof, it should teach us to labour to attain to this estate of being spiritually convinced of the goodness of God, that we may by experience say, ' It is good for me to draw near to God,' for God will not esteem of us accord- ing to our knowledge, but as our afiections are, and therefore the wicked man he cal…
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Usel. Now, for use of this, it should teach us how to think on God, not as all justice and power, hating sin and sinners, but as a Father, now lay- mg aside terrible things that may scare us from drawing nigh to him, and as a God, stooping down to our human nature, to take both it and our miserable condition upon himse…
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Fifthly, Be in God's vallcs and ordinances in a course of doinrj good, in our Christian or civil calling, sanctified by prayer and a holy dependence upon God for strength, wisdom, and success. Go not out of those ways wherem he gives his angels charge of our persons and actions, and what- ever we do. Labour to do it wi…
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Secondly, Hence we may learn Jwiv to justify zeal in religion. If to be near God be good, then the nearer him the better; if religion be good, then the more the better; if holiness be good, then the more the better; it is best to excel in the best things. Who was the best man but Christ, and why ? He was nearest the fo…
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Sixthly, In all distresses, those that draw near to God wiU JJy to him with confidence; but a guilty conscience is afraid of God, as of a creditor that oweth him punishment, or that intendeth to cast him into perpetual prison. And as a child will in all his wrongs go and complain to his father, Rom. V. 2, seq., so if w…
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DAVID'S CONCLUSION; OR, THE SAINT'S RESOLUTION. DAVID'S CONCLUSION; OR, THE SAINT'S RESOLUTION. NOTE. ' David's Conclusion ' is one of the sermons of the ' Beams of Divine Light.' (4to, 1G39. Cf. Vol, V. p. 220.) Its separate title-page is given below.* DAVIDS CONCLVSION: OR, THE SAINTS RESOLVTION. In one Serm…
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The second point is, that, 2. God s children, when they arc in this conflict, they recover themselves. God sufi'ers them to be foiled, but then they recover themselves. First, there is a conflict, and then ofttimes the foil. A man is foiled by the worst part in him, and then after a while he recovers ; and then, as i…
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84 DAVID S CONCLUSION ; OR, devices ; but to look upon the catastrophe and winding up of the tragedy ; not to look on the present conflict, but to go to the sanctuary, and see the end of all, see how God directs all things to a sweet end. ' All the ways of God to his children are mercy and truth,' Ps xcviii. 3, though…
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Use. Therefore the use we are to make of it, is to discern of ourselves of what spirit we are, lohat principles we lead our lives hy ; whether by exam- ples of greatness, or multitude, or such like, it is an argument we are led by the spirit of the world and not by the Spirit of God. God's children, as they are severed…
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Here you have the justification of piety, of holy courses, which is set down by ' drawing near to God ; ' and the argument whereby it is justi- fied, ' It is good.' This gloss put upon anything commends it to man ; for naturally since the fall there is so much left in man, that he draws to that which is good ; but, whe…
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Then again, there is a nearness when we not only know things aright, but mind them ; when the things are present to our minds ;^ when God is in our thoughts. David saith of the wicked man, ' God is not in his thoughts.' When we mind and think of God and heavenly things, they are near to us, and we to them. For the soul…
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As it must be truth, and a good truth, so it must be good for me, as the holy man saith here, ' It is good for me,' &c. A thing may be good for another man. The devil knows what is good ; and that makes him envy poor Christians so. Wicked men know that which is good when they sin against the Holy Ghost ; but for them i…
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Now, nothing will do this but the Holy Ghost, as ye have it John xvi. 7, seq. : ' Christ promiseth to send the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and he shall convince the world of sin ;' that is, he shall so set sin before the eyes of men's souls, that they shall know there is no salvation but in Christ. He shall convince the…
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1. By yielding what was said: * I am black ; ' that is, my estate here is imperfect, subject to sin, to affliction ; not beautiful, therefore, in carnal eyes and judgments, but deformed. gg THE CHURCH S BLACKNESS. 2. By denying the argument, that therefore she must be despised of men, rejected of Christ as one that h…
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Beasons. 1. First, In regard of outward infirmities, that we might be made conformable to his Son, Rom. viii. 17, and so reign with him, being first made suitable to the body. Christ was to be like us in all things, sin excepted, and to partake with us in flesh and blood, that he might destroy him that had the power of…
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THE church's blackness. 99 Well, then, slie yields herself to be black, but yet she is not discouraged ; she will not be set down, she is comely for all her blackness, she will to Christ still, as the verse tells us. Hence learn, Doct. 2. Though our estate be here imperfect, yet ice must not be dis- couraged. God's c…
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Further, in that the church here stands upon her comeliness, notwith- standing of all her deformities and infirmities, learn we, Doct. 3. There is a glory and excellence in the saints of God in the midst of all their deformities and debasements. Though they be encompassed with many miseries, yet are they glorious even…
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102 THE church's blackness. Thus we have heard the church's apology for her blackness. The next verse, which I cannot now speak of as I would, contains the remainder of her answer, wherein she proceeds to shew thus much, that the church and Christians, even at the worst, are not to be despised for infirmities. This sh…
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Reason 4. Fourthly, Their own consciences will be upon them, and it is with them as with a child that plays truant, his heart throbs, he hath no peace: so a Christian, whether he prosper or not prospers, he hath no peace, he eats not, he sleeps not in peace. The uses briefly are two. Use 1. Is this true? It first teac…
921 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.