. . . . ' Spirits are not finely tonch'd
But to fine issues.' — {Measure for Measure, I. 1). Cf. note b, page 247, and note c. Vol. IV. page 58. With reference to the former, it may here be added that the ' little Latin ' of Shakespeare probably sufficed to make him acquainted with Cicero, de Offic. lib. iii. c. 21, where the same sentiment occurs. Perhaps this is Sibbes's reminiscence.
(6) P. 291. — ' Bene vixit, qui bene latuit.' A proverbial memorial of the Lord's frequent ' hiding ' and retiring of himself. Cf. John viii. 59, from which and parallel passages the Fathers and Puritans are never weary in inculcating the above lesson. This apophtliegra was used very touchingly by the saintly Philip Ilenryunder the shadows of his ' Ejection ' from Worthenbury. In his straits some of liis friends iirged liim to revive his acquaintance and interest at Court, which it was thouglit he might easily do. It was even reported that the Duke of York, a playmate of his boyhood, had inquired after him. But he heeded not the rumour, nor could lie bo induced in any way to ask for royal favours, remarking, ' My friends do not know so well as I the strength of temptation, and my own inability to deal with it. Qui bene latuit, bene vixit. Lord, lead me not into temptation. Cf. the well-known ' Life,' and an interesting paper entitled ' The Family of the Henrys,' in Evangelical Magazine, April and May 1863.
(c) P. 303. — ' Deo servire, est regnare.' This is one of the watchwords of the Schoolmen.
{d) P. 303. — ' Quanto subjectior, tanto liberior.' This is only the saying of note 0 in another form.
(e) P.304 . — 'Therefore Lactantius saith well, " Eeligion is the true wisdom."' Cf. his De Vera Sapientia, throughout ; and is also found incidentally in his De Falsa Sapientia.
(/) P. 305. — ' Whatsoever cometh, he is in idrumque paratus.^ The legend of the Johnstone arms (Scotland). ' Nunquam non paratus ' is another form of this saying.
{g) P. 315. — ' Not afraid to die to him, as one said of himself.' One of the blessed commonplaces of the Martyrs, e.g., Polycarp, Ignatius.
(h) P. 315. — ' We must not be servants of men . . . no mancipivm alienee libidinis.' The philosopher is Aristotle. G.
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PUECHASED BY HUMILIATION.
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PURCHASED BY HUMILIATION.
NOTE.
The titlc-pago of the original and only edition of ' Christ's Exaltation purchased by Humiliation' is given below.* The T. G. and P. N. represent, as in his other volumes, Dr Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye, both whose names have been already annotated (cf. Vol. II. p. 3). The volume is a thin 18mo. It is among the rarer of Sibbes's lesser pieces. G.
* CHEISTS EXALTATION
PVKCHAST BY
HUMILIATION.
Wherein yoii may see
Mercy and ilisery meete
together.
Very Uscfull
I. For Instructing the Ignorant.
IT. For Comforting the Weake.
III. For Confirming the Strong.
By R. Sibbs D.D. and Preacher of
Grayes-Inne, London.
Published by T. G. and F. N.
1 Cor. 15. 45. The first man Adam was made a Living Soule, the last Adam was made a Quickning Spirit.
LONDON
Printed by Tho. Cotes, and are to be sold by
John Bartlet at his shop, at the Signe of the guilt
Cup, neere S. Austins gate. 1639.
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PURCHASED BY HUMILIATION.
For, for this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. — Kom. XIY. 9.
The dependence of these words upon the former I take to be this : The scope of the apostle in this chapter is to stay the rigid censures of others concerning weaker Christians, especially about matters of indifferency, or at the least of a less nature. In the Gth verse, saith he, ' He that regards not a day, regards it not, to the Lord he that eats, eats to the Lord ; and he that eats not to the Lord, he eats not, and gives God thanks,' &c. His reason is this : they that in eating or in not eating do it with a religious respect to the Lord ; if they eat, it is to the Lord; if they eat not, it is to the Lord; that is, in obedience to the Lord. They are to be borne withal, because they do it with religious respects. Though perhaps there may be a httle error in the matter, yet there be some things of such indiflerency that they [do] not give denomination to the action, if it be to the Lord. How- soever the action be not altogether to be excused, yet the person is to be excused, and is not to be hardly censured. Therefore considering that they* do it, and they that do it not, do it to the Lord, be not hasty in your censures.
Qiiest. How doth he prove that these holy Christians did eat or not eat to the Lord ?
Ans. From this, because they were the Lord's. They that are the Lord's, they live to him, and die to him ; and therefore they do particular actions to him. ' No man,' ver. 7, ' Hves to himself, nor no man dieth to himself,' which includes all particular actions. ' Whether we live, we live to the Lord ; or whether we die, we die to the Lord ; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.' He proves therefore that they do eat or not eat to the Lord, if they be good Christians, because they are the Lord's.