* ' Revised.' See address to ' Christian Reader ' prefixed to ' Bruised Reed ' and ' Soul's Conflict,' and the various prefaces to the posthumously published volumes. The H. R. and S. C. seem to liave been more fully written out by Sibbes himself ; but as Mr Ryle observes of Ward, even they, and much more the others, have all the characteristics of compositions intended for ears rather than for eyes, for hearers rather than for readers. In the haste of revision, it is easily to be understood how Sibbes passed by the 'mistaken sentences.'
f ' The SOVLES Confltct with it selfe, And Victory over it self by Faith : A Treatise of the inward dlsquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them. Returne unto thy rest 0 ray soule, for tl:e Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. By R. Sibbs D.D. Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher of Grayes Inne London. The Second Edition. Lonhon Printed by M. F. for R. Dawlman at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Churchyard. 1635. 12°' By the way, it may be noticed as an Incidental confirmation of above, as to B being identical with A, that Benlowes' and Quarles's 'Verses' did not appear in it, but first in C. There was a,' second edition' also of 1636, which perhaps explains, but does not in the slightest extenuate, the bishop's rash and reckless a.^sertion, see- ing he boasts of having' seen and compared all. But indeed D, as in the case of A and B, is palpably from the same types, a mere further issue of C. Hence, probably, the designating C and I) ' the second edition,' the only change being in the date 1635 into 1636. It will be noticed from our prefatory note to 'Soul's Conflict,' that there were two ' fourth * editions likewise. Nichols, in his Introduction to Pearson on the Creed, has shewn how publishers were wont to continue issuing edition upon edition, ■with the same date. I believe this to have been done with Sibbes's ' Soul's Conflict,' and that the long apparent interval between edition of 1651 and that of 1658 is thus explained.
294 THE soul's conflict.
Thai this is the true esplanation, will he readily granted,
[y] When it is remembered who were the literary executors and editors of all Sibbes's writings. If the honoured and venerable names of Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, Jeremiah Burroughs, Simeon Ashe, James Nalton, be not sufficient to put to flight all charges of unauthorised changes or omissions, much more of 'trick,* ' falsification,' ' corruption,' then none may hope to do so. But apart altogether from Sibbes's own explicit declaration, that ' some sentences ' had been ' mistaken,' and his deprecation of any ' depraving ' of his writings on the strength (or rather weak- ness) of such mistake, the character of the men is more than sufficient to meet the 'accusations and insinuations of the ' Friendly Debate.' Finally,
£,t] The use of the peculiar word ' deprave,' * in the second statement of his case, reveals the bishop's knowledge of Sibbes's special intimation concerning the mis- taken sentences, a circumstance which aggravates his disingenuousness.
I would only add, that a similar examination of the numerous other kindred charges of the ' Friendly Debate ' will satisfy any one that scarcely a page is without its over or under statement, that its citations are wrested from their context, that dogma is substituted for proof, and loud assertion for argument, while the entire spirit and temper evidence a contest for victory rather than truth.
(h) P. 214. — ' The soul is made for God, and never finds rest till it returns to him again.' This seems to be a reminiscence of the well-known saying of Augustine, ' Thou madest us for thyself, and our heart is restless, until it rests in thee,' (Confess. Book i. 1).
(i) P. 243. — ' No calling so mean .... enough to give account for.' I have marked this searching observation, in order to confirm it with the great and worthy John Brown of Haddington's ' Hint to Ministers,' than which few things are more striking. It was originally addressed to Dr Waugh, when a young man, and sub- sequently published in the ' Evangelical Magazine.' The Eev. John Brown of Haddiugton, clanim et venerabile nomen, in a letter of paternal counsels and cautions to one of his pupils newly ordained over a small congregation, wrote thus — ' I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small, in comparison with those of your brethren around you ; but assure your- self on the word of an old man, that when you come to give an account of them to the Lord Christ, at his judgment-seat, you will think you have had enough,^ — Memoir of Dr Waugh, by Drs Hay and Belfrage. 1839. 8vo. Pages 64-5.
(j) P. 259. — ' Salvations.' Sibbes here notes the bold and unusual expression which would seem to indicate such abundant help as meets abounding need. It is interesting to find one thus early turning from time to time to the original Hebrew as well as Greek. G.
* ' Deprave.' See ante page 127, line 10 from bottom.
THE SAINT'S SAFETY IN EYIL TIMES.