* That is,- • flit.'— G.
THE SAINT'S PRIVILEGE.
When he is come, he shall reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judg- ment: of sin, because they believe not in me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father ; of judgment, because the prince of this ivorld is judged. Especially the 10th verse. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you shall see me no more. — John XVI. 8-10.
Our blessed Saviour descending from heaven to earth for the redemption of man, after he had accomplished that great work, he ascended thither again. And knowing his disciples would take his departure very heavily, he labours to arm them against the assaults of all grief and sorrow that might otherwise oppress them ; and that by many arguments. Among the rest, this is not the least, that when he is gone away he will ' send the Comforter unto them.' God never takes away anything from his children but he sends them a better. And this Comforter whom he promised to send shall bear them through in all their ministry, all function ; and in effect he thus bespeaks them. You my disciples are to encounter with the world ; be of good comfort, my Spirit shall go along with you, and ' he shall reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.' Of your- selves you are too weak, but the Spirit shall strengthen you, and make way into the hearts of those that shall be saved, by convincing them of ' sin, righteousness, and judgment.' So that be not discouraged ; the Spirit shall breathe courage into you, and make way for your doctrine. * When the Comforter is come, he shall reprove the world of sin, and of righteous- ness, and judgment : of sin, because they believe not in me ; of righteous- ness, because I go to the Father ; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.'
* ' The Saint's Privilej?e ' appears to have been a favourite with the public. Be- sides more modern reprints, I possess the following editions : — (1.) 1638, 18mo. Its title-page is as follows :— ' The Saints Priviledge or a Christians constant Advocate ; Containing a short but most sweet direction for every true Christian to walke com- fortably through this valley of teares. By the faithfull and Reverend Divine R. Sibs, D.D. and sometime Preacher to the Honourable Society of Grayes-Inn. London, Printed by G M for George Edwards dwelling in Green-Aibour at the signe of the Angell. 1638.' (2.) 1638, 4to. (8.) 1641, 4to. (4.) 1650. Appended to successive editions of ' The Returning Backslider. (Cf. Vol. II. page 250.) The first edition, which is our text, has Marshall's portrait of Sibbes prefixed, with the usual inscrip- tion,— G.
358 THE saint's PRmLEGE.
There are three main parts of salvation.
Knowledge of our misery, knowledge of onr deliverance, and a life answerable. The Holy Ghost shall work all these. He shall convince the world of their own sin, of righteousness by a mediator, and of a reformation of life. So that the Holy Ghost shall go along with you in the carriage of the whole business of man's salvation. Where he begins, he makes an end. Where he convinces of sin, he convinces of righteous- ness, and then of a necessity of a reformation. He bears all afore him, and he doth it in a spiritual order.
1. First, He * convinces the world of sin,' then ' of rigbteousness,' then ' of judgment ;' because it were in vain to convince of the righteousness of Christ unless he hath before convinced of sin. For who cares for balm that is not wounded ? Who cares for a pardon that is not condemned ? Therefore he convinces of sin first. I have spoken heretofore of convinc- ing of sin.
Here is a threefold convincing; of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and every one of these hath a reason added thereto. ' Of sin, because they believe not in me ;' ' of righteousness, because I go to my Father ;' 'of judgment, because the prince of this -n'orld is judged.'
The Holy Ghost begins with convincing of sin. What is this convincing ? It is a clear and infallible demonstration of our condition. It brings a commanding light into the soul. It sets down the soul and takes away all cavils, all turnings and windings. To ' convince' is to make a man, as the psalmist's* phrase is, ' lay his hand upon his mouth.' Light is a convincing thing. Now we see the sun we see it is day. Though ten thousand men should say it is not day, we would not believe them, because the convincing hereof is undeniable, that he must be an unreasonable man that gainsays it.
So then, the Spirit of God brings a commanding light into the soul undeniable. Thou art thus and thus ; here no shifting, no winding and turning will serve the turn when the Holy Ghost comes with this light. I do but plainly unfold this.
This conviction of the Holy Ghost is not in general only, that all men are sinners, but particular and strong. ' Thou art a sinner, and thou art in danger of damnation.' And it is universal, taking in sins of nature, sins of life, sins of ihe understanding, will, and affections ; and it is not of sin only, but of the misery by sin, of the danger, folly, and madness of sin, and of the aggravations that greaten sin, as of stifling so many good motions, withstanding so many means, abusing so many mercies. The Holy Ghost convinces us thoroughly, that we can have nothing to reply. Because I have spoken of this before, I am short. Beloved, unless the Holy Ghost ' convince,' there will be no convincing. Our deceitful hearts have so many windings and turnings ; proud nature arms itself with defences, as a hedgehog winds himself round and defends himself by his pricks. So you have many clothe themselves with strong words, ill transla- tions upon others,! frivolous mitigations ; the way of the multitude, as with a coat of mail to keep out this conviction, that clid not the Holy Ghost strike in hard with their consciences, ' Thou art the man,' this work would never be done.