MEMOIR OF EICHAKD SIBBES, D.D. XXXV
puritan household, and whose ' Exposition of Ephesians' is worthy to take its place beside Rogers and Byfield on Peter, Jenkyn on Jude, Petter on Mark, Elton on Colossians and Romans, Newton on John, and their kindred folios, that lie now-a-days like so many unworked mines of gold — had succeeded Perkins as preacher at St Andrew's, Cambridge, ' and it pleased God,' says Clarke, ' to make him an instrument of the conversion of that holy and eminent servant of Christ, Dr Sibbes.' Sibbes himself is reverently reticent on the momentous matter, even in his preface to Bayne's ' Exposi- tion of the first chapter of Ephesians' (published separately in 1618), making no allusion to it ; but it probably took place somewhere about 1602-3.* In 1602, having passed M.A., he shortly there- after became a 'preacher.' By 1608 'he was a preacher of good note.' Where he did preach we are not informed. In his address to the reader prefixed to the 'Soul's Conflict,' he states that the ' Sermons' which compose it had been preached first of all ' about twelve years' before 'in the city,' i.e., London, and afterwards at ' Gray's Inn.' I have utterly failed to come upon any memorial of this ' city' ministry ; but it is probable that it was commenced between 1602 and 1607. Elected 'College Preacher' in 1609, he must have been then well known and distinguished.
In 1610, when he had graduated B.D., another very important event happened. In that year a 'Memorial' was addressed to him, which, in so far as I can learn, appears to have been the origin of the subsequently celebrated ' Trinity Lectureship,' held since by some of the greatest names of the church. The memorial gives us
* ' Conversion .... reticent.' This is quite in accord with Sibhes's declared senti- ments. I would refer the reader to ' The Description of Christ,' pp. 30, 31. There he will find not more sound than admirably expressed counsels and warnings as to the 'vainglory' of publishing abroad things too solemn to be so dealt with. I assume the responsibility of affirming, that at no period have those warnings been more demanded than the present. Every one who ' loves the Lord,' who prays and longs for the coming of ' the kingdom,' who mourns the wordliness and coldness of all sec- tions of Christ's divided church, must rejoice in the past two years' awakening and * revival.' 1 would gladly recognise the work of the Spirit of God in much that has taken place. I verily believe very many have been 'born again,' and more who were half asleep have been stirred and quickened. At the same time, it were to be un- faithful and untruthful to blink the ' evil' that has mingled with the ' good.' It becomes every reverent soul to protest against those premature declarations of ' con- versions,' and publication of 'expcrieftces' that have got so common. It is perilous to forget the Master's words, Luke xvii. 20. Paul was fourteen years a ' servant' of Christ before he made known his ineffable rapture and vision. Modern ' converts,' do not allow as many hours to expire ere their whole story is blazoned in the public prints. Surely a thing so awful and so sacred, unless in very exceptional instances, is for the ear of God alone. The Tract Societies would act wisely if they circulated by thousands as a ' Tract for the Times,' Sibbes's priceless words of ' Vainglory.' VOL. I. C
XXXVl MEMOIR OF RICHABD SIBBES, D.D.
insight into the! popularity of Sibbes as a preacher.* The ortho- graphy and wording of the original are retained : —
* A Coppye of the general request of the inhabitants of o'' p'ishe deliv'ed to Mr Sibs, publique p'acher of the house of Cambridge.
' We wbose names ar heerunderwritten, the Churchevvardens and P'ishion- ers of Trinity p'ishe in Cambridge, with the ful and fre consent of Mr Jhon Wildbore o'' minister, duely considering the extream straytnes & div'se other discomodities concerning the accustomed place of y^ exercise & desireing as much as in vs lyeth y* more publique benefit of yo" ministery, doe earnestlye entreat j'ou wold be pleesed to accept of o' p'ishe Churche, which al of vs doe willinglye offer you for & concerning the exercising of yOf ministery & awditorye at the awntient and usual daye & houre. In witnes hereof wee have heervnto set to o' hands this 22th (sic) of Noveber 1610. ' John Wilbore, Minister.
' Edward Almond, ) ^i , ,
' Thomas Bankes, } ^^^'^^^^^'^'l^^^- (Signed also by 29 Parishioners.)
The churchwardens of the parish having kindly permitted access to their ' Records,' I hnd amongst them a list of the names of the sub- scribers to the lectureship in the several parishes of the town, with the amount of each person's subscription, which runs generally 13s. 4d., 10s., and 6s. 8d. per annum. Three gave £i per annum each, of whom one was Mr Hobson, the carrier, immortalised by Milton, and later by Steele in the 'Spectator,' and to this day a ' household word' in Cambridge, in kindly eccentric associa- tion with the proverb, ' Hobson's choice, that or none,' which no one book-read will need explained. One thing is noticeable, that a goodly number of the signatures to the memorial are with marks -\-. This is of the last interest and not a little touching. The ' common people' heard Sibbes, like his Master, ' gladly,' and the 'straytnes of the place' hindered others. This is a sign of change for the better in Cambridge very worthy of observation. ' The old longing after that full preaching of the gospel which had \ characterised the period of Perkins's seraphic yet pungent ministry, was revived. Sibbes responded to the memorial, and immediately it was felt that ' Trinity' had a man of mark as its ' Lecturer,' the coequal of Bayne of St Andrew's. How those saintly servants of the same Lord would rejoice to be fellow-helpers of each other, the younger 'serving' with the elder, as a son with a father. The lectureship of ' Trinity' was a complete success. Besides the townsmen, many scholars resorted to him, whereby he became, in the words of Clarke, a ' worthy instrument of begetting many sons