NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES.
PURITAN PEEIOD.
ttt^ ^tmxnl ^xdna
BY JOHN C. MILLEE, D.D.,
UNCOLN COLLEGE ; BONOEAKT CANON OF WORCESTEB ; BECTOB OF ST MARTIN'S, BIBMINOHAHi
THE
WOEKS OF RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.
VOL. VI.
COUNCIL OF rUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Tlieology, Congregational Union, Edinburgh.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Ncwington Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CRAWFORD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University, Edinburgh.
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh.
WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church History, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby- terian Church, Edinburgh.
©rntval ©Ditor. REV. THOMAS SMITH, M.A., Edinburgh.
THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.,
MASTER OP CATHERINE HALL, CAMBRIDGE ; PREACHER OF GRAY's INN,
LONDON.
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER BALLOCH GROSART,
(cob. MEMB. SOC. ANTIQ. of SCOTLAND)
KINROSS.
VOL. VI.
CONTAINING :
THE FAITHFUL COVENANTER
JOSIAH's REFORMATION THE SPIRITUAL FAVOURITE
THE SUCCESSFUL SEEKER THE RETURN OF PRAISE THE SAINT's COMFORTS-
THE church's COMPLAINT GOD's INQUISITION RICH POVERTY
SPIRITUAL MOURNING VIOLENCE VICTORIOUS ANGELS' ACCLAMATIONS
FRUITFUL LABOUR MATCHLESS LOVE
A HEAVENLY CONFERENCE KING DAVID's EPITAPH LYDIa's CONVERSION—
THE bride's LONGING.
EDINBURGH : JAMES NICHOL.
LONDON : JA^IES NISBET AND CO. DUBLIN : W. ROBERTSON.
M.DCCO.LXUI.
EDINBtmOH :
PRIITTBD BY JOHN ORBIO AND SOU,
OLD PHYSIC 0ABDBN8
' ^
CONTENTS.
Page
THE FAITHFUL COVENANTEE. .... 1-25
JOSIAH'S EEFOEMATION. .... 27-90
(1.) The Tendek Heabt. ..... 27-43
Doctrines : —
[1.] God doth graciously fit prophets for persons and his
word to a people that are upright in their hearts. 30
[2.] It is a supernatural disposition of a true child of
God to have a tender and a melting heart. . 32
Wherein is discussed —
The qualities of a tender heart. ... 32
How a tender heart is wrought fand] how preserved. 33
How God is said to harden the heart. . • 88
How to know that we have a sensibleness and pli-
ableness. ..... 39
How to recover ourselves from deadness of heart. 41
(2.) The Art of Self-Humbling. .... 44-58
Doctrines : — »
[l.J It is a disposition not unbefitting kings to humble
themselves before God. .... 44
[2.] The actions of grace are reflected actions. . 46
Here are handled —
The kinds and degrees of humiliation. . . 46
How we may come to humble ourselves. . . 48
Motives to humiliation. .... 51
How true humiliation may be known. . • 52
(3.) The Abt of Mourning. .... 59-75
Doctrines : —
[1 .] The body and soul must join together in the action
of humiliation. ..... 62
430447
VI CONTENTS.
Page [2.] When God will afflict or humble a man, it is not a
kingdom that will save him. . . . G3
[3.] Tears and mourning for sins, when it comes from
inward grief, is a temper befitting any man. . 03
[4.] It concerns magistrates above all others to bo affected
with the dangers and miseries of a land or nation, G4
[5. J It is the duty of every Christian to take to heart the
threatenings of God, against that place and people
where he doth live. .... 65
[6.] God takes a particular notice of the prayers we make
to him. ...... 72
(4.) The Saint's Refreshing. .... 76-90
Doctrines : —
[1.] God regards every good thing which his children do,
and rewards them for the same. ... 77
[2 and 3.] Death is nothing but a gathering, and pre-supposeth that God's children are all scattered in this world amongst wicked men. .... 78
[4.] The changes of God's children are for the better
still. ..... 78
1 5.] Burial is a comely and honourable thing. . 80
[6.] The miseries of this life may be such as that death may be much better then life, and far rather to be chosen. ..... 81
[7.] Our times are in God's hand. ... 81
[8.] It is the sight of misery' which works the deepest
impression. ..... 82
[9.] Those which be dead ' in the Lord' are freed from
seeing any evil or misery. ... 83
[10.] The righteous go to heaven, and cannot see or know
our wants. ..... 83
[11. J The lives of God's children do keep back evil from the place where they live, and their death is a forerunner of judgment. ... 84
[12. J All the evils which we suffer are from the evil of
sin. ...... 86
[13. J God will give good men faithful servants. . 88
[14.j The care of a commonwealth and of a church is a
duty belonging to the king. ... 88
THE SPIRITUAL FAVOUKITE AT THE THEONE OF
GEACE. 91-108
Notes. ....... 108
THE SUCCESSFUL SEEKEE. .... 109-132
. Notes. ...... 182
CONTENTS.
A RESCUR FROM DEATH, WITH A RETURN OF PRAISE.
Notes. ......
Vll Paoe
. 133-157 157
THE SATN'T'S COMFORTS.
The chilclrcu of God fall into extremity of misery and affliction
Six reasons of it. .
Two uses of it : first, not rashly to censure ourselves or others
secondly, against profane mockers at the dejected. God upholdeth his from sinking in trouble Four reasons of it. . Seven uses of it. Affliction stirs up devotion. . Two uses of it.
Prayers to be made only to God. How to make our prayers fervent. Six directions. 'Sin hinders praj^er.