But to speak something of this treatise of this godly and painful minister of Christ, which is written by him without affectation, as desirous to clothe spiritual things with a spiritual manner of writing, the diligent and godly reader shall observe a sound, clear, substantial handling of the greatest points that natm-ally fall within the discourse, and a more large and usefril unfolding of many things, than in former treatises. It appeareth he sought the good of aU ; so that, besides the labours of other holy men, there wiU be just cause of blessing God for his assistance in this work. To whose blessing I commend both it and the whole Israel of God.
Gray's Inn. R. Sibbes.
Passing on to 1623-4, we have a delightful ' epistle' prefixed to
Ezekiel Culverw^ell's ' Treatise of Faith applied especially
unto the use of the weakest Christians.' * This little volume had
* A Treatise of Faith. Wherein is declared how a man may live by faith, and find relief in all his necessities. Applied especially unto the nse of the weakest Christians. By Ezekiel Culverwell. The just shall live by faith. The seventh
XC MEMOIR OF KICHAKD SIEBES, D.D.
passed through seven editions by 1633 ; and it were well if its popularity could be revived ; for it overflows with profound thought, sagacious counsel, pungent appeal, and true eloquence. But let Dr Gouge characterise it and its author. ' God,' he says, ' sent Ezekiel Culverwell, as of old he sent Ezekiel Buzi, to set forth the promises of God more plentifully and pertinently than ever before ; and that to breed faith where it is not, to strengthen it where it is weak, to settle it where it wavereth, to repair it where it decayeth, to apply it aright to every need, to extend it to sanctification as well as to justification, and to point out the singular use of it in matters temporal, spiritual, and eternal.' And he adds — ' What I say of him, I know of him ; for from mine infancy have I known him, and under his ministry was I trained up in my younger years, he being at least two-and-twenty years older than myself.'* Let us now read Sibbes's ' Epistle to the Christian Reader : ' —
The leading of a happy life (the attainment whereof this treatise directeth tmto) is that which all desire, but God's truth only discovereth, and faith only enjoyeth. In the first Adam, our happiness was in our own keeping ; but he, by turning from God to the creature, made proof what and whence he was ; a creature raised out of nothing, and without the supporting power of him in whom all things consist, subject to fall into a state worse than nothing again. Hence God, out of his infinite power, and depth of goodness intending the glory of his mercy, in restoring man, would not trust man with his own happiness ; but would have it procured and established in the person of a second Adam, in whom we recover a surer estate than we los' in the first. For though Adam's soul was joined to God, yet that knitting was . within the contingent and changeable liberty of his own will ; but now wo are brought to God in an everlasting covenant of mercy, by faith in Christ ; who, by taking the nature of man into unity of his person, and not the person of any, became a public person, to be the author of eternal salvation to all that receive him ; and so gathering us that were scattered horn God, into one head, bringeth us back again to God, by a contrary way to that where- by we fell, that is, by cleaving to God by faith, from whom we fell by distrust. A fit grace for the state of gi'ace, giving the whole glory to God, and empty- ing the soul of all self-sufiiciency, and enlarging it to receive what is freely wrought and oflered by another. Thus we come to have the comfort, and God the glory of mercy ; which sweet attribute moved him to set all other attributes on work to make us happy. Out of the bowels of which mercy, as he chose us to eternal salvation in Christ, so vouchsafeth he all things necessary to life and godliness. And as the same love in God giveth us heaven, and furnisheth us with all things needful in the way, until we come thither ; so the same faith which saveth us, layeth hold likewise on the promises of necessaiy assistance, comfort, provision, and protection : and
edition, corrected and amended. Ephes. vi. 16, ' Above all, taking the shield of faith.' Rora. XV. 4, ' Whatsoever things wore written aforetime, were written for our learn- ing, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.' London : Printed by J. D. for Hen. Overton, and are to be sold at his shop at the entering in of Fope's-head Alley, out of Lumbard Street, 1633. * ' To the Christian Reader,' prefixed to Treatise of Faith, supra.
MEMOIR OF KICHARD SIBBES, D.D. XCl
this office it perfonneth in all the several stations of this life, until it hath brought us unto the enjoying of him ' in whose presence is fuhiess of joy for evermore,' Ps. xvi. 11.