Welcome to a year of reading Richard Sibbes together! The reading plan for the entire year can be accessed here. In February, we’ll learn more about the man behind the Bruised Reed as we tackle Mark Dever’s biography of Sibbes. (Purchase it here). I encourage you to stick with us, allow yourself time to read, and soak in the riches of this gifted and prolific Puritan preacher. You will be edified and encouraged!
If you have trouble with how Sibbes used words, check out the Lexicons of Early Modern English for definitions from the period.
Summary/Engagement
We come to the end of our reading in The Bruised Reed, this week. In chapters 13 – 16 Dr. Sibbes covers weaknesses, discouragements, and Satan’s involvement in manipulating them to render Christians ineffective. Satan and his fallen angels work hard against us in our service to Christ. We work against ourselves in giving in to our sin. We begin to think that these discouragements, weaknesses, and temptations to sin mean that we must not be saved. We hear that little voice of doubt slithering through our souls, conclude we are lost, and despair. Sibbes does some masterful work in considering God’s work in the bruised reeds and faintly smoldering wicks that we are.
We look for purity in thought and action and conclude that if we do not have it, we shouldn’t act. We mix up God’s demand for perfection with our own performance and neglect Christ’s work in us. Sibbes observes “We should not avoid good actions for the infirmities cleaving unto them.” (65) Indeed, as though we could do anything pure while sin clings to us.
This knowledge of God’s holiness is good for our bearing towards him. Let us not forget that Christ is our mediator by necessity of our sin. We obey by the power of God and to the glory of God.
Sibbes says then that we should obey, as is our duty, and put in the hard work of putting sin to death by obedience to Christ.
“It is as in rowing against the tide, one stroke neglected will not be gained in three; and therefore it is good to keep our hearts close to duty, and not to hearken unto the excuses they are ready to frame.”
Obedience is hard. We will obey imperfectly. However, we must obey. Throughout The Bruised Reed he holds up Christ’s character and work above our inabilities, sins, imperfections, discouragements, and doubts. He soothes us, as we are but bruised reeds and faintly burning wicks, in constant danger of breaking or our fires being snuffed. The Christian life of obedience to God and battling sin is long, and hard, and Sibbes drops the sweet rain of heavenly wisdom to soothe us.
“We are only therefore poor, because we know not our riches in Christ.”
Application/Discussion
In the final chapter he discusses Satan’s work of misrepresenting our Lord to us. Having spent much of his time in assuring wounded Christians of their salvation and Christ’s work in them, he turns to the work of the Accuser.
“Since Christ is comfortably set out unto us, let us not believe Satan’s representations of him. When we are troubled in conscience for our sins, Satan presents God as a severe judge armed with justice against us.”
How true! When we fall in to sin of any kind we may think God will severely judge us. Have we considered, though, that these thoughts of God (for those that know Christ) are Satan’s work at misrepresenting the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ and his finished work on our behalf? He reassures the reader with sentences that make me wander off in awe of Christ. Consider;
“In Christ all perfections of mercy and love meet; how great then must that mercy be that lodgeth in so gracious a heart?”
How great indeed! If Christ is perfect mercy and love his heart is indeed gracious. And you, sinner, if you are his, his grace and mercy are unrestrained toward you. He fans the smoldering wick into flame because what little light and fire is there in us is from him. He may discipline us, but he will not destroy us. We confuse chastisement and wrath. Does the Lord discipline you? Then rejoice! “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12
Sibbes ends with the objection “This were good comfort, if I were but smoking flax.” I’ve heard that objection before. I’ve thought that objection before. “That’s all good if I were but saved!” I can’t answer it any better than he:
“If thou beest not so much as smoking flax, then why dost thou not renounce thy interest in Christ, and disclaim the covenant of grace? This thou darest not do. Why dost thou not give up thyself wholly to other contents? This thy spirit will not suffer thee. Whence come these restless groanings and complaints? Lay this thy present estate, together with this office of Christ to such, and do not despise the consolation of the Almighty, nor refuse thy own mercy. Cast thyself into the arms of Christ, and if thou perishest, perish there; if thou dost not, thou art sure to perish. If mercy be to be found anywhere, it is there.”
Christ is all-sufficient. Cast yourself upon him anew, rejoice in your salvation whether this be the first time, or the four-thousandth.
“Whatsoever may be wished for in an all-sufficient comforter, is all to be found in Christ”
Share in the comments your reflections on this, and share what insights you gained from this week’s reading.
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Last week, we covered nine through twelve.
Next week, we’ll be starting Mark Dever’s biography of Richard Sibbes. It’s available new from the publisher.
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