It may seem to some unbefitting to offer a discourse of a * bruised reed ' to such a strong and flourishing cedar. But experience sheweth that the strongest plants in God's house are exposed sometimes to strong winds of temptation, and thereupon meet with bruisings, that they may the better know by whose strength they stand, and that the greatest may learn to go out of themselves to the same common rock and fountain of strength with the meanest. David was a valiant man ; yet upon experience of his oft failings and recoveries, he became towards God as a weaned child. Low- liness of mind to Godward and greatness of spirit against His enemies may well stand together ; for the way to be above all other things is to submit to God first. Besides, this text speaketh of the prevaiHng government of Christ in his church and in his children, which may be an encourage- ment to 3'our Lordship still, not only to own the cause of Christ in these times, wherein men are ashamed of what they should glory in, and glory in their shame ; but likewise to fight the Lord's battles, when called to it, and help him against the mighty, for victory attendeth Christ's side in the end. Though God, to revenge the quarrel of his covenant, suffer his enemies to prevail yet for a time, to harden them the more, yet they have undei-taken a damned cause ; and howsoever the church hath justly provoked God, yet the cause shall stand impregnable against all created * ' Against,' added first in B.
EPISTLE DEDICATORY. • 87
power of devils and men. Wc naturally desire ^-ictoiy, and many desii-e it more than truth or goodness, which only are victorious ; and so out of a depraved judgment they cross their own desires, seeking to overcome in that wherein it were safer for them to be overcome. These * are sui'e to meet with shame in the conclusion instead of victory ; or else we must deny Christ to be King of his chm-ch and Judge of the world. Proceed on stUl, Honourable Lord, to stand for Christ both in peace and war, and this shall be foimd to your honour when Christ shall come ' to be glorious in his saints,' 2 Thess. i. 10, that he thought you worthy to honour himself by, when others, that oppose or betray the cause of Christ for base ends, shall not dare to hold up their heads.
I would not divide you from your Honourable Lady, being obliged to both, and both being one, as in other bands, so in that above nature, in love to the best things ; both exemplary in all rehgious courses ; both in your places, likewise, having been employed in great services for the common good, so that not only this but foreign States are bound to bless God for you both. Going on in these ways, j'ou will find God making his promise good of honouring them that honour him.
I do not so far overvalue this poor work as to think it worthy of your Honours, but thus I thought meet to witness my deserved respect to you both. If I be to blame for suflering these sermons, long since preached, thus to come forth, others must divide the fault with me, who had brought it to that pass that it was almost necessary for me to take this course. The Lord continue to bless your Honours, with all your branches, and to maintain his grace in you, * untU he hath brought forth judgment unto victoxy,' Mat. xii. 20.
Your Honours' to command in the Lord,
RICHARD SIBBES. * ' They,' in A.
,20443
TO THE aENEEAL EEADEK.
To prevent a farther inconvenience, I was drawn to let these notes pass with some review, considering there was an intendment of pubHshing them, by some who had not perfectly taken them ; and these first, as being next at hand : and having had occasion lately of some fresh thoughts con- cerning this argument, by deaUng with some, the chief ground of whose trouble was the want of considering of the gracious nature and office of Christ ; the right conceit of which is the spring of all service to Christ, and comfort from him. God hath laid up aU grace and comfort in Christ for us, and planted a wonderful sweetness of pity and love in his heart towards us. As God his father hath fitted him ivith a body, Heb. x. 7, so with a heart to be a merciful Redeemer. What do* the Scriptui'es speak but Christ's love and tender care over those that are humbled ? and besides the mercy that resteth in his own breast, he works the like impression in his ministers and others, to comfort the feeble-minded, and to bear uith the weak, 1 Thess. V. 14. Ministers by their calling are fi-iends of the Bride, and to bring Christ and his Spouse together, and therefore ought, upon all good occasions, to lay open all the excellencies of Christ, and amongst others, as that he is highly born, mighty. One ' in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hid,' Col. ii. 3, &c., so likewise gentle, and of a good nature, and of a gracious disposition. It cannot but cheer the heart of the spouse, to con- sider, in all her infii-mities and miseries she is subject to,f that she hath a husband of a kind disposition, that knows how to give the honour of mild usage to the weaker vessel, that wiU be so far from rejecting her, because she is weak, that he will pity her the more. And as he is kind at all times, so especially when it is most seasonable; he will speak to her heart, ' espe- cially in the wilderness,' Hos. ii. 24. The more glory to God, and the more comfort to a Christian soul, ariseth from the belief and application of these things, the more the enemy of God's glory and man's comfort labours to breed mispersuasions of them, that if he cannot keep men from heaven, and bring them into that cursed condition he is in himself, yet he may trouble them in their passage ; some and none of the worst, Satan prevails Avithal so far as to neglect the means, upon fear they should, being so sin- ful, dishonour God and increase their sins ; and so they lie smothering under this temptation, as it were bound hand and foot by Satan, not daring to make out to Christ, and yet are secretly upheld by a spirit of faith, shewing itself in hidden sighs and groans unto God. These are abused by false representations of Christ ; all whose ways to such being ways of mercy, and all his thoughts, thoughts of love. The more Satan is malicious * ' Doth/ iu A and B. f ' Unto,' iu A and B.