In this chapter Sibbes will discuss the marks of the smoking flax. This is a great chapter to read whenever we are questioning our salvation. Sibbes seems to have had many people in his ministry that where bruised reeds and smoking flax. He has much wisdom in directing them. This chapter is helping me as a minister in addressing they youth that come to me with doubts. It also encourages me when I might have “fits of melancholy” myself.

Quick Outline:

• Our Rule is the Covenant of Grace
• The Presence of the Heavenly Fire

Summary:

Whether Sibbes was one himself or dealt with many of the like, he accurately portrays “those that are given to quarrelling with themselves”. It seems as if the entire chapter is devoted to such dear saints that “delight to be looking on the dark side of the cloud only”. I have had seasons in my life where I felt this described me so this chapter serves as “balm to my soul”.

Because so many ministers do not follow Chapter 5 I believe Chapter 6 becomes necessary. Because some ambassadors are “overbearing, setting up themselves in the hearts of people where Christ alone should sit as in his own temple” many young (and weaker) believers begin to have false reasoning. They begin to falsely reason that, “because our fire does not blaze out as others, therefore we have no fire at all”. Sibbes in this chapter hopes to combat such false thinking.

He does so first by reminding us that believers are under the covenant of grace and not under the law. Sibbes points us to the fact that the Law demands perfect obedience from the heart, and violation of that results in a terrible curse. Moreover, the Law provides no strength. Contrast this with the merciful Savior. “Christ comes with blessing after blessing, even upon those whom Moses had cursed with healing balm for those wounds which Moses has made.” Therefore, as we look at such a great Savior we must “look to grace in the spark as well as in the flame”.

Sibbes then gives us 10 rules for the presence of the heavenly fire. They are:

1. If there be any holy fire in us, it is kindled from heaven
2. The least divine light has heat with it in some measure
3. Where this heavenly light is kindled, it directs in the right way
4. Where this fire is, it will sever things of diverse natures, and show a difference between such things as gold and dross.
5. So far as a man is spiritual, so far is light delightful to him.
6. Fire, where it is present, is in some degree active
7. Fire makes metals pliable and malleable
8. Fire, as much as it can, sets everything on fire
9. Sparks by nature fly upwards
10. Fire if it has any matter to feed on, enlarges itself and amounts higher and higher, and, the higher it rises, the purer the flame.

Discussion:

The key thing to note from this chapter is that “we must look to grace in the spark as well as in the flame”. This is the entire point of Sibbes exposition. He is leading us from the beginning stages of the spark through the spark aflame. At the beginning he speaks tender words of encouragement to any believer that has but even a small spark of grace. But as Sibbes closes he raises the bar. “…it argues a false heart to set ourselves a low standard in grace and to rest in beginnings, alleging that Christ will not quench smoking flax”.

Thinking in such a way helps us in our spiritual walk to strive toward more holiness. It also helps in ministering to the needs of others. Sibbes keeps us from being too severe and censuring those that do indeed have a spark of grace, and yet he also keeps us from being comfortable in beginnings.

Pearls and Diamonds:

“We must beware of false reasoning, such as: because our fire does not blaze out as others, therefore we have no fire at all.” (p.35)

“We must look to grace in the spark as well as in the flame. All have not the like strong, though they have the like precious, faith.” (p.36)

“Weak light produces weak inclinations, strong light, strong inclinations.” (p.38)

“Where fire is, in any degree, it will fight everything contrary to it…grace will never join with sin, any more than fire with water.” (p.41)

After reading this chapter, if I were a web designer I would craft a picture of my rear and Richard Sibbes kicking it. Certainly that would be inaccurate because it is not Sibbes that has “cut me to the heart” but the Holy Spirit of God using Sibbes. This chapter has thus far been the most pastoral but also has application for every believer. From the very beginning Sibbes is used by the Spirit of God to cut the heart of prideful meanies like myself. I realized after reading this chapter that I am not as merciful with “smoking flax” as I ought to be.

Quick Outline:

• Simplicity and Humility
• Sound Judgment
• How Those in Authority Should Act
• We are Debtors to the Weak

Summary:

The Spirit of Mercy Should Move Us is the title of this chapter and Sibbes makes his point well. From the beginning Sibbes sets forth his point: “Preachers need to take heed therefore how they deal with young believers. Let them be careful not to pitch matters too high, making things necessary evidences of grace which agree not to the experience of many a good Christian, and laying salvation and damnation upon things that are not fit to bear so great a weight.”

Part of having a spirit of mercy is being simple and humble. We must be very careful as ministers not to let our pride cause us to speak in lofty speech. We must make certain that the truth is unadorned. We ought to be like Christ in this matter (as in all), that “abased [himself] for the good of the meanest”. Part of this simplicity is not laboring over and racking their wits upon things that are non-essential. Yet, even in this point Sibbes advices that sometimes God will allow a shaking up and questionings. Therefore, we ought to be careful not to allow men to go needlessly into error. On the other hand we must be careful to deal with these times of questioning with much grace.

Lest he be misunderstood Sibbes gives a warning concerning these principles and urges us to continue in sound judgment. As we are bearing with others we must make it evident our dislike of evil. Sometimes we are called to be merciful, sometimes severe. This is a difficult task and therefore we must seek the counsel of the “spirit above our own”. Often the Spirit of God will lead us into moderation. Yet, even here Sibbes warns us that. Some men are not really pursuing moderation. And others are doing so in pride as if they have wisdom above both parties.

Sibbes then move on to discussing how those in authority should act. His advice is simple. We should “not kill a fly on the forehead with a mallet, nor shut men out of heaven for a trifle”. It is important to understand the great esteem held to church discipline in this day. If a man were censured by the church (in Sibbes case Anglican) it meant something. It was as if that man were shut out of heaven itself. Therefore, Sibbes is advising that we execute our authority (that which has been given to us by Christ) with care.

Along these same lines Sibbes reminds us that we are debtors to the weak. Sibbes then gives three lines of advice. 1) We must be careful in our liberties not to offend the weak. 2) Be careful not to misrepresent the actions of another. 3) We must not be quick to censure a brother based out of our ill passions. Sibbes then closes out his chapter by further making his point that mercy should move us because we are debtors. A wonderful quote to sum up this chapter would be, “The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offensive souls. Oh, that the Spirit would breathe into our spirits the same merciful disposition”.

Discussion:

As discussed earlier this has so far been the most convicting chapter for me. I believe this chapter, if heeded, could be used mightily by God in this generation. We are seeing many young ministers (as well as older men) with a bold passion for the truth of God. We are witnessing the beautiful doctrines of grace being restored. The keys of church discipline are being grasped again by many churches. Sibbes, in this chapter, serves as a reminder that we must not take these to an unhealthy extreme. In our passion for truth we must be careful not to be lofty and continue in humility. In our quest to restore biblical practices such as church discipline we must be cautious that we do not go overboard and “kill a fly on the forehead with a mallet”.

Sibbes does a beautiful job in this chapter of following the narrow way. He is quick to speak against foolish moderation and passivity. However, in the same word of thought he cautions against severity. Sibbes says it best when he says, “It is hard to preserve just bounds of mercy and severity without a spirit above our own, by which we ought to desire to be led in all things”. Sibbes puts us where we ought to be–in the hands of the Spirit of God. As he does this he reminds us that other believers are there as well.

Pearls and Diamonds:

“The ambassadors of so gentle a Saviour should not be overbearing, setting up themselves in the hearts of people where Christ alone should sit as in his own temple.” (p.26)

“When [truth] is most unadorned, it is most lovely and powerful.” (p.27)

“Nothing is so certain as that which is certain after doubts.” (p.28)

“One man’s meat may be another’s poison.” (p.28)

“Mercy does not rob us of our right judgment, so as to take stinking fire-brands for smoking flax. None will claim mercy more of others than those who deserve due severity.” (p.29)

“…not to kill a fly on the forehead with a mallet…” (p.30)

“Misery should be a [magnet] of mercy, not a footstool for pride to trample on.” (p.31)

“What would have become of our salvation, if he had stood upon terms, and not stooped thus low unto us? We need not affect to be more holy than Christ.” (p.33)

“The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offensive souls. Oh, that the Spirit would breathe into our spirits the same merciful disposition.” (p.33)