RlCHAUD SiBS.
John Davenport. In 1 682, Sibbes introduced to the world the excellent folio of John Smith on ' The Creed,' * and the well-known and still vital treatise of John Ball on ' Faith.' -f* John Smith was 'preacher of the word at Clavering in Essex.' He succeeded Bishop Andrewes as lecturer in St Paul's Cathedral. Anthony Wood speaks of him as being skilled in the original languages, and well acquainted with the writings of the ablest divines. He died in November 161 6. J
* An Exposition of the Creed ; or, an Explanation of the Articles of our Christian Faith. Delivered in many afternoon sermons, by that reverend and worthy divine, Master John Smith, late preacher of the Word at Clavering in Essex, and sometime Fellow of St John's College, in Oxford. Now published for the benefit and behoof of all good Christians, together with an exact table of all the chiefest doctrines and uses througliout the wbole book. ' Uprightness hatli boldness.' Heb. xi. 6, ' But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh unto God must be- heve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' At London : Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, for Robert Allot, and are to be sold at his shop, at the sign of the Black Bear, in Paiil's Churchyard. 1632.
t A Treatise of Faith. Divided into Two Parts, the first shewing the Nature, the second the Life of Faith, both tending to direct the weak Christian how he may pos- Bess the whole word of God as his own, overcome temptations, better his obedience, and live comfortably in all estates. By John Ball. Hab. ii. 4, ' The just shall live by his faith.' The third edition, corrected and enlarged. London : Printed by Robert Young, for Edward Brewster, and are to be sold at his shop, at the sign of the Bible, upon Fleet Bridge. 1637. 4to.
J Wood's Athenae (od. by Bliss), ii. 188. And see Chalmers's Biog. Diet., sub. voce
MEMOIR OF EICHAED SIBBES, D.D. 'Cl
So far as I have been able to read his folio, I must regard Sibbes's "Introduction as its most valuable feature. Pearson, indeed, over- .shadows all such works. John Ball has been very lovingly written of by very many. Wood and Clarke, Thomas Fuller, and Eichard Baxter, and Simeon Ash join in speaking ' well ' of him. His books, larger and smaller, are worthy of a place beside those of Sibbes. His ' Power of Godliness ' (1657), a thin folio, is marked by extraordinary acquaintance with the workings of the human heart. There are touches of weird subtlety, and one in reading can easily understand the stillness of his auditory. His treatise on ' Faith ' is rich and practical.* With these few words, let us turn to the two ' epistU «« : ' — ■
I. Smith on the Creed.
To the Christian Reader.
It is available, for the better entertainment of this work, to know some- thing concerning the author, concerning the work itself, and concerning the argument ; for the author, my acquaintance with him was especially towards the declining part of his years, at what time (as they speak of the sun towards setting) the light and influence which comes from worthy men is most mild and comfortable. The gifts of men then, perhaps, are not so flourishing as in their younger time, but yet more mature, and what cometh from them is better digested. In the prime of his years he was trained up in St John's CoUege, in Oxford, being there Fellow of the House, and for piety and parts esteemed highly in the University of those that excelled in both. Afterwards he grew to that note that he was chosen to read the lectm'e in Paul's, succeeding therein that great, learned man, Doctor Andrewes, late Lord Bishop of Winchester, which he discharged not only to the satisfac- tion, but to the applause of the most judicious and learned hearers, wit- nessed by their frequency and attention. Not long after he w\as removed to a pastoral charge in Clavering, in Essex, where being fixed till his death, he shined as a star in his proper sphere.
This good man's aim was to convey himself by all manner of ways into the heart, which made him willingly heard of all sorts ; for witty things only, as they are spoken to the brain, so they rest in the brain, and sink no deeper ; but the heart (which vain and obnoxious men love not to be touched), that is the mark a faithful teacher aims to hit. But because the way to come to the heart is often to pass through the fancy, therefore this godly man studied by lively representations to help men's faith by the fancy. It was our Saviour Christ's manner of teaching to express heavenly things in an earthly manner ; and it was the study of the wise man, Solo- mon, becoming a preacher, to find out pleasant words, or words of delight, Eccles. xii. 10. But when all pains are taken by the man of God, people will rehsh what is spoken according as their taste is. It falleth out here as it doth in a garden, wherein some walk for present delight, some carry flowers away with them to refresh them for a time ; some, as bees, gather honey, which they feed on long afterwards ; some, spider-Uko, come to suck that which may feed that malignant and venomous disposition that they bring with them. There cannot be a better character of a man than * Consult Brook, ' Lives of the Puritans,' ii. 440, sej.