PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes — Volume 7
Richard Sibbes · 412,687 words · 416 reading sections
Section 121
1 93. Our whole life under the gospel should be nothing but thankfulness and fruitfulness. Take heed, therefore, of turning the grace of God to wantonness. The state of the gospel requires ' that we should deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live righteously and soberly and godly in the present world,' &c., Tit…
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205. A man indeed is never overcome, let him be never so vexed in the world by any, till his conscience be cracked. If his conscience and his cause stand upright, he doth conquer, and is more than a conqueror. 206. Partial obedience is no obedience at all. To single out easy things that do not oppose our lusts, which …
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217. God takes nothing away from his children, but instead thereof, he gives them that which is better. Happy is that self-denial that is made up with joy in God. Happy is that poverty that is made up with grace and comfort. Therefore let us not fear anything that God shall call us unto in this world. It is hard to per…
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229. That we may be convinced of sin, the Spirit must work a clear and commanding demonstration of our condition in nature. It takes away therefore all cavils, turnings, and windings ; even as when we see the sun shine we know it is day. The Spirit not only convinceth in generals that we are all sinners, but in particu…
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239. He is a vahant man that can command himself to be miserable ; and he that cannot command himself to endure some bondage and disgrace in the world, it argues weakness. Christ could have come down from the cross, but he shewed his strength and power by enduring their reproaches and torments. 240. The reason why man…
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252. God oftentimes defers to help his children until they be in ex- tremity, till they be at their wits' end, because he will have them live by faith and not by sight ; as good Jehoshaphat, ' We know not what to do, but our eyes are towards thee,' 2 Chron. xx. 12. So St Paul received the sentence of death in himself, …
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203. It is much to be desired that 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. God humbles great persons to learn of meaner ; and it is our duty to embrace the truth whosoever brings it ; and oftentimes mean persons are instruments of comf…
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272. We must take heed of coming to God in our own persons or 216 DIVINE MEDITATIONS worthiness, but in all things look at God in Christ. If we look at God as a Father, we must see him Christ's Father first. If we see ourselves acquitted from our sins, let us look at Christ risen first. If we think of glorification i…
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280. To discern of our estate in grace, let us chiefly look to our affec- tions, for they are intrinsecal, and not subject to hypocrisy. Men of great parts know much, and so doth the devil, but he wants love. In fire all things may be painted but the heat. So all good actions may be done by an hypocrite, but there is a…
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288. A man may know that the word hath wrought upon his conscience, when he comes to it, that he may hear and learn and reform. A man that hath a heart without guile, is glad to hear the sharpest reproofs, because he knows that sin is his greatest enemy ; but if we live in a course that we are loath should be touched, …
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295. A Christian joys aright, when it proceeds from right principles, from judgment and conscience, not from fancy and imagination ; when judgment and conscienoe will bear him out ; when there is good terms between God and him : for our joy must spring from peace : Rom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have peace t…
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- That is, ' beside.'- G. f That is, * trifles.'— G. AND HOLY CONTEMPLATIONS, 221 tliat cannot make a right choice of things ? and how do carnal men make their choice, when they embrace perishing things for the best ? Secondly, a carnal man hath not parts to apprehend spiritual things aright. He can- not see things i…
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307. A Christian in his right temper is compared to the best of every- thing. If to a lily, the fairest ; if to a cedar, the tallest ; if to an olive- tree, the most fruitful : ' And his smell shall be as Lebanon.' We should therefore make use of all natural things, and apply them to spiritual. If we see a lily, think …
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314. All love and associations that are not begun on good terms, will end in hatred. We should take heed whom we join in league and amity withal. Before we plant our aflections, consider the persons what they are. If we see any signs of grace, then it is good ; but if not, there wull be a rent. Throughout our whole lif…
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AND HOLY CONTEMPLATIONS. 225 we give way to wrath, and revenge, and covetousness, in that degree Satan hath advantage against us. Seventhly, when a man will not believe and submit to truths revealed, though but a natural truth ; therefore God gave them up to vile afi'ections, Rom. i. 26, because they would not cherish…
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328. There is in God a fatherly anger. After conversion he retains that ; and this fatherly anger is also turned away when in sincerity we humble ourselves. There is one saith well, ' A child of anger, and a child under anger' (fj. God's children are not children of wrath, but some- times they are under wrath, — when t…
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334. God is so powerful an agent that he can overthrow all. He can overthrow the carnal principles of reason, which every natural man hath in the fort of his soul. He presents to men the condition they are in by nature, and lets in a taste of his vengeance. When God in his ordinances shews greater reasons for goodness …
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I HOPE it will not be offensive to any here present, — it may be profitable to some, — briefly to repeat what I have spoken in another place of this text.* The whole contains an exhortation to prayer, Christ's exhortation to Christ's hearers. The parts are two. 1. The exhortation strictly taken, pointing out the duty.…
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THE KNOT OF PRAYER LOOSED. 233 the wicked God saith, What hast thou to declare my statutes, or that* thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth ? seeing thou hatest instruction, and easiest my word behind thee.' Obj. Here some may object, that even many heathens have been heard in their prayers who were not thus q…
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(2.) The second is. Thankfulness for benefits and blessings received and enjoyed, with forgiveness of the old debts ; thanksgiving ere we beg more mercies. For this cause we speed not in our suits ; because we forget him, he forgets us. 3. The attenihatts of prayer. (1.) First, Perseverance, called ' watching with pr…
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Again, an idle man in his calling, though he pray much and often to prosper therein, God, if he make his word good, will not grant his suit. As he hath said, 'the hand of the diligent maketh rich,' Prov. x. 4, so, on the contrary, he hath said in other places, ' that the sluggard shall be clothed with rags ; that his s…
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(3.) Thirdly, To quicken our appetite. God puts us off the longer ; we are unwise and think he doth it to put us off for ever ; in which manner of working the Lord in a manner fisheth for us. The fisher, we know, doth draw back the hook when he finds the fish is like to bite, that the fish may follow. So God gives back…
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In France, the time was when their persecution was great, and their fears many ; then they did trust on the king of NavaiTe, Oh what great matters he would do ; but he failed them at their need. God indeed paid him home for disappointing the prayers and hopes of his people. Why did God suffer this ? We may imagine this…
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(3.) Finally, When God hears us not in any of the foresaid ways, yet in effect he shews ive have sometimes far better things than ice desired, as we see his promise is, Isaiah Ix. 17, ' For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver,' &c. Thus, many times when we pray for brass, iron, wood, and stones, w…
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Now I come to the reasons, which are two : first, ' every one that asketh * Qu. 'them'? — Ed. t Qu. ' meting?' that is, ' measuring.' — Ed. THE KNOT OF PRAYER LOOSED. 241 receiveth ; ' as if he should say, for the Lord exempts no man that doth not disable himself. This promise, we must understand, is not a thing chai…
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Secondly, /or the dijftciilty of praijer with faith ; our Lord saw that there was no work more difficult to be done, and therefore he so presseth it with arguments. The causes of the difficulty of praj'er I take to be these : — (1.) First, Because our profaneness and natural corruptions do most shew themselves in thi…
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(4.) Fourthly, Because we take a delay for a denial, and so are dis- couraged ; that if we be not heard by and by, we throw down our armour and run away, or sit still astonished, so disabling ourselves. (5.) Fifthly, The hardness and difficulty of the things we pray for hin- * Cf. note a, Vol. I. page 117.— G. 244 TH…
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2. The second use is, /or reproof to such as think it an easy matter to pray. Ask a^beggar wandering through the country how he thinks to come to heaven, and he will answer, By my good praj'ers. So the dissolute and profane man, ask him how he thinks to come to heaven, he will say, By my good prayers. I confess, if you…
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4. The fourth use is for advice. If the Lord have given us liberty at any time this way, that our hearts have been opened and enlarged, our faith strengthened, our eyes cleared, our consciences eased, so that our confessions have been large, bless God for this, and reckon it a most sin- gular mercy. We fail all herein …
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(3.) Lastly, as it is in Col. iii. 17, ' Whatsoever we do in word or in deed, we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.' "We do no honour to God, but through Christ ; and so in the particular of our prayers we have the less joy, living in dis- couragements, not giving the begi…
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(4.) The last and principal one for this purpose, is that which lieth in the test, the first main reason which now fitly proflers itself, the universality of the grant, which is as a common, every commoner having interest therein, some more, and some less, yet all have interest less or more. As princes have masters of …
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See this last help to stay up our hands, to wit, that little picture of the great God in the dearness of affection which he hath placed in parents. If thou be a father or a mother, thou knowest it ; but no man can know it but a father or a mother. Also, hast thou not seen what affection may be in a son to the father ? …
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(b) P. 238. — ' The king of Navarro . . . the prince of Conde.' It is only neces- sary hero to notice that Sibbes evidently sees the ' iinger of God' in the murder of Henry by Kavaillac. The apostasy of the great Huguenot points many 'a moral' to the Puritiins. The services of Conde it were superfluous to annotate. He …
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25G THE RICH PEARL. creatures have a double use, one for the good of the body, another for the good of the soul, as Eom. i. 20, seq. The Godhead is so manifest in the creature, as it alone is sufficient to leave us without excuse ; and therefore as we daily use them, so should our souls, by way of meditation, make the…
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But now, in the second place, let us see how tve may come by this pearl. We must therefore know that this pearl may be had ; and we must have hope thereof, else there is no venturing for it; and therefore God, to pre- vent all excuse, he ofl'ers this pearl in his word. The pearl is sent from heaven to come to us. The m…
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See, in the next place, tvho is the right fool. Is not he that in his judg- ment preferreth counters* before gold, and the baubles of this present life before that enduring substance in the heavens. We condemn Adam, Esau, and Judas for their foolish choice, when, alas! there is no worldling but is as ill as the worst o…
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SIN'S ANTIDOTE. SIN'S ANTIDOTE. NOTE. ' Sin's Antidote ' forms No. 25 of the original edition of Saint's Cordials, 1629. It was not gives in the other two editions. Its separate title-page will be found below.* G. « SINNES ANTIDOTE. In One Sermon. Wherein is shewed, What sinne is. The misery of it. How it bindes…
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Another thing in sin is, God is dishonoured. Why? ' If I be a father, where is my honour ? if I be a master, where is my fear ?' saith God in that same Mai. i. 6. He accounts obedience his honour, therefore dis- obedience is dishonourable to him. ' He that offers me praise, glorifies me,' saith he, ' and to him that or…
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Ans. 2. Secondly, We are said to be * baptized for the washing away of sins.' There the washing away of sins is put for all the rest. Sometimes again you shall have them both mentioned : and so in Jer. xxxi.' 32, ' This shall be the covenant that I will make with thee, in those days,' saith God: ' I will be their God,…
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Justice and mercy. He is exactly just, and exactly merciful. He so shews mercy, as it must be done without injury to his justice. Justice must be fully satisfied, that mercy may be fully and comfortably manifested. Now there is the blood- shedding of Christ to satisfy justice, there is forgiveness of sins to declare m…
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Now let us come to the main point intended, and that is this, that Boct. All the benefits that believers have by the new covenant, and so by the death of Christ, they are all of them given them in the remission of their sins. And therefore remission of sins is here put for the whole covenant, for all the privileges of …
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270 sin's antidote. sin and of death.' So that now you see plainly there is something else given when sin is not imputed, and so a man is free from condemnation ; all the rest comes in with it ; that the law of the Spirit of life frees us from the law of sin and of death, and so by degrees perfects holiness and sancti…
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The first use we will make of it shall be for instruction and exhortation, and we will come after to comfort, and to resolve certain cases, if time serve. The cases are many, and rise from mistake of the covenant. Use 1. First, for exhortation and instruction, and that shall be to per- suade every one, if they would m…
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(3.) Again, to what use else is the sacrament, if it be not to make known to a man the forgiveness of sins ? for that same giving to every particular man with the intent of it, to remember me, as Christ speaks, that which Christ did, as the end of it, that he died for sinners, and died for those particular sinners to w…
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VOL. VII. S 274, SIN S ANTIDOTE. hath rich jewels in it, so they are precious promises that have such precious mercies in thorn. Thus these are such things as 'eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard,' &c. ohj. But some man will say. If no man ever saw them, if no man ever knew them, how shall wo ever pet the knowledg…
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(3.) But, thirdly, it is not a bare confession of sin, that may proceed fi-om common knoidedge and illumination; but there goes more in it, and that is, there is a loathing and a detesting of it. By that the Lord describes the repentance of the people of Israel : Isa. xxx. 22, ' They shall defile the rich idols, and th…
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Again, he prizeth Christ at so high a rate, having forgiveness, that he will not part with him. The church saith, ' If she could get Christ, she would keep him in the chamber of her mother that brought her forth.' And when she hath him, what is her desire ? ' Set me as a seal upon thy hand : for love is strong as death…
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(2.) But now secondly, he judgeth the prince of this icorld, as well as him- self; that as he judgeth himself for his actions, so he judgeth all the motions of sin in his heart : that for the present, if any motion be rising from his own corruption, drawing him to a new act of evil, he judgeth and con- demneth the sin …
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sin's antidote. 279 a living in Christ. I beseech yon, consider this, the walking of a man that hath received Christ, in the Scripture, is called a walking in Christ: 'As you have received Christ, so walk in him ;' and the living of believers is said to be a living in Christ : * Now I live, yet not I, but Christ livet…
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t That is, ' wonder.'— G. THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL. 281 feasting, piped and danced, and at funerals and times of mourning did mourn and use some fitting ceremony. Now there were some among them that were froward, and would neither be content with mourning nor piping, and playing, and to these Christ compares these g…
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And lastly, it teacheth us to conceive of the ivord, together with the good- ness and power thereof, ivith admiration and wonderment. In the next place, observe, from the calumniation of the scribes, that rebellion and opposition agai)ist goodness is never without show of reason; and men they will never go to hell, bu…
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1. First, It doth arise from a higher beginning than all other xoisdom whatever ; for it comes from God's goodness and mercy. 2. Secondly, The matter. It is a deep mysterij. Christ, God-man ; his nature, oflices, and benefits. 3. Thirdly, It is more poxverfid than all other wisdom ; for it transforms us. It makes us …
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3. In the next place, observe the children of wisdom do justify it; that is they receive it, approve it, defend it, maintain it; for it is fittin" that children should stand for their mother, and take to heart any wron» that is done to her ; and therefore the child of wisdom privately believes it, and loves it ; and op…
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Moreover, this is a ground of exhortation, to move us to this duty of jus- tifijiny the ordinances and ways of God in life and conversation. Justify Christ to be our Saviour by relying on him, and let the justified soul justify him to the world by repairing to him and depending on him. Justify God to be our Father, by …
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First, From the coming of Christ to these women observe, that where God hath begun grace, he will not discontinne, but ivill be perfecting of it till the dag of the Lord; directing by his providence continually for their good, and sending his servants the prophets to that end ; for God's providence extendeth to the lea…
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AnA, first, we should be sure to reprove out of love to the paHij, else the proud nature of man will not endure it. * That is, reduplication. Cf. Eichardson sub voce. — G. VOL. VII. T 290 Mary's choice. SecondJ}/, It must be done in wisdom; first advise, then speak, else shame will return on us, and the other will …
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Secondly, And another reason hereof is in our frouard piettish natures. An unmortified nature is like a sore, everything pierces to the quick, besides that it vexeth itself. Thirdly, And this is caused jjartly by too much passion in us, and partly by tvant of judgment, and ignorance or not remembering the end and issu…
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MABY S CHOICE. And first, Consider in everything what reference it hath to this one thing, what reference it hath to grace and glory. So long as we neglect this, the devil cares not what we have, whither we go, in what company we are ; all is one to him. Secondly, Carry ourselves respectively according to the necessi…
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Thirdly, The best things in our minds must challenge the chiefest choice and first place in allowing them, then trying them, and lastly choosing them. The good part heremeantis grace and glory . This is that which Mary chose, to hear Christ speak for the strengthening of the graces in her, and that thereby she might as…
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Sixthly, In the next place, come ive often, and sit at Christ's feet, as Mary here came to the ministry. ' He that heareth you heareth me,' saith Chyist. Live under a powerful plain ministry. Lastly, Labour to draw on others to this choice. By so much the more earnest endeavour, by how much the more we have been a mea…
1,029 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.