§ Commeniary on 1st Chapter of Ephesians, handling the controversy of Pre- destination, 4to, 1618.
VOL. I. /
Ixxxiv MEMOIR OF EICHAED SIBBES, D.D.
in all ages there hath been, and will be necessary uses of holy treatises, appliable to the variety of occasions of the time ; because men of weaker conceits cannot so easily of themselves discern how one truth is inferred from another, and proved by another, especially when truth is controverted by men of more subtile and stronger wits. Whereupon, as God's truth hath in aU ages been opposed in some branches of it ; so the divine providence that watcheth over the church, raised up some to fence the truth, and make up the breach. Men gifted proportionably to the time, and as well furnished to fight God's battles, as Satan's champions have been to stand for him : neither have any points of Scripture been more exactly discussed, than those that have been most sharply oppugned, opposition whetting both men's wits and industry, and in several ages men have been severally exercised. The ancientest of the fathers had to deal with them without (the Pagans), and especially 'nith proud heretics, that made their own conceits the measure of holy truth, believing no more than they could comprehend in the articles of the Trinity, and natures of Christ, whence they bent their forces that way, and for their matter wi-ote more securely. Not long after, the enemies of grace, and flatterers of nature, stirred up St Augustine to challenge the doctrine of God's predestination and grace out of their hands, which he did with great success, as fitted with grace, learning, and wit for such a con- flict, and no Scriptui'es are more faithfully handled by him, than those that were wrested by his opposites, and such as made for the strengthening of of his own cause. In other writings he took more liberty, his scholars Pros- per, Fulgentius and others interest themselves in the quarrel.
In process of time, men desirous of quiet, and tired with controversies, began to lay aside the study of Scriptui'es, and hearken after an easier way of ending strife, by the determination of one man (the Bishop of Rome), whom virtually they made the whole chm-eh ; so the people were shut up under ignorance and imphcit faith, which pleased them well, as easing them of labour of search, as upon the same irksomeuess of trouble in the eastern parts, they yielded to the confusion and abomination of Mahometism.
And lest scholars should have nothing to do, they were set to tie and untie school knots, and spin questions out of their own brain, in which brabbles they were so taken up, that they slightly looked to other matters ; as for questions of weight they were schooled to resolve all into the decisive sentence of the see apostolic, the authority of which they bent their wits to advance ; yet then "wisdom found children to justify her : for Scriptures that made for authority of princes and against usurpation of popes, were well cleared by Occam, Marsilius, Patavinus, and others, as those of predestina- tion and grace by Aiiminensis, Bradwardinc, and their followers, against Pelagianism, then much prevailing. At length the apostasy of popery spread so far, that God in pity to his poor church, raised up men of invincible courage, unwearied pains, and great skill in tongues and arts to free religion, so deeply enthralled ; from whence it is that we have so many judicious tractates and commentaries in this latter age. And yet will there be neces- sary use of farther search into the Scriptures as new heresies arise, or old are revived, and further strengthened. The conviction of which, is then best when their crookedness is brought to the straight rule of Scriptm'es to be discovered. Besides, new expositions of Scriptures will be useful, in respect of new temptations, corruptions in life and cases of conscience, in which the mind will not receive any satisfying resolution, but from expUca- tion and application of Scriptures. Moreover, it is not unprofitable that there should be divers treatises of the same portion of Scriptures, because
MEMOIR OF RICHARD SIBBES, D.D. IxXiV
the same truth may be better conveyed to the conceits of some men, by some men's handling than others', one man rehshing one man's gifts more than another. And it is not meet that the glory of God's goodness and "wisdom should be obscm-ed, which shineth in the variety of men's gifts, especially seeing the depth of Scripture is such, that though men had large heai-ts, as the sand of the sea shore, yet could they not empty out all things contained ; for though the main principles be not many, yet deductions and conclusions are infinite, and until Chi'ist's second coming to judgment, there will never want new occasion of further search and wading into these deeps.
In all which respects this exposition of this holy man, deserves acceptance of the church, as fitted to the times (as the wise reader will well discern). Some few places are not so full as could be wished, for clearing some few obscurities ; yet those that took the care of setting them out, thought it better to let them pass as they are, than be over-bold with another man's work, in making him speak what he did not, and take them as they be. The gi*eatest shall find matter to exercise themselves in ; the meaner, matter of sweet comfort and holy instruction, and all confess, that he hath brought some hght to this excellent portion of Scriptiu'e.