Quotes by Richard Sibbes(1577-1635)
His advice to Thomas Goodwin; “Young man, if ever you would do good, you must preach the gospel and the free grace of God in Christ Jesus.”
“Glory follows afflictions, not as the day follows the night but as the spring follows the winter; for the winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.”
“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.”
“Weakness with watchfulness will stand, when strength with too much confidence fails. Weakness, with acknowledgement of it, is the fittest seat and subject for God to perfect his strength in; for consciousness of our infirmities drives us out of ourselves to him in whom our strength lies.”
“God knows we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requires no more than he gives, but gives what he requires, and accepts what he gives.”
“"Measure not God's love and favour by your own feeling. The sun shines as clearly in the darkest day as it does in the brightest. The difference is not in the sun, but in some clouds which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof.”
“Better to be in trouble with Christ, than in peace without him.”
“Every creature thinks itself best in its own element that is the place it thrives in, and enjoys its happiness in; now Christ is the element of a Christian.”
“Heaven is not heaven without Christ. It is better to be in any place with Christ than to be in heaven itself without him. All delicacies without Christ are but as a funeral banquet. Where the master of the feast is away, there is nothing but solemnness. What is all without Christ? I say the joys of heaven are not the joys of heaven without Christ; he is the very heaven of heaven.”
“What a support to our faith is this, that God the Father, the party offended by our sins, is so well pleased with the work of redemption!”
“It were a good strife amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none. The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others.”
“Moses, without any mercy, breaks all bruised reeds, and quenches all smoking flax. For the law requires personal, perpetual and perfect obedience from the heart, and that under a most terrible curse, but gives no strength. It is a severe task master, like Pharaoh's, requiring the whole tale of bricks and yet giving no straw. Christ comes with blessing after blessing, even upon those whom Moses had cursed, and with healing balm for those wounds which Moses had made.”
“Think what great love Christ has showed unto us, and how little we have deserved, and this will make our hearts to melt and be as pliable as wax before the sun.”
“If our faith were but as firm as our state in Christ is secure and glorious, what manner of men should we be?”
“Nothing in the world of so good use, as the least dram of grace.”
“What do the Scriptures speak but Christ’s love and tender care over those that are humbled?”
“Perfect refining is for another world,”