A12184:655
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulness. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philip. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Gray's-Inn.
London: printed by T. Cotes and John Dawson for Peter Cole, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This lastly, may serve for a trial of our §4estates, for many that think themselves to be ⟨p. 228⟩good Christians, think with Peter it is good being here, its good for them to be in this world, they fear the coming of Christ, the very thought thereof destroys all their mirth, it is to them like the hand writing on the wall to Balthasar. The child of God is of another disposition, he is begotten to this hope, his desire is accordingly, his endeavour and labour is by any means to attain to the resurrection of the dead.
This lastly, may serve for a triall of our §4estates, for many that thinke themselves to be ⟨p. 228⟩good Christians, thinke with Peter it is good being here, its good for them to bee in this world, they feare the comming of Christ, the very thought thereof destroyes all their mirth, it is to them like the hand writing on the wall to Balthasar. The childe of God is of another disposition, hee is begotten to this hope, his desire is accordingly, his indeavour and labour is by any meanes to attaine to the resurrection of the dead.
1To which I answer, it is true; but it is caused by their careless carriage, and yet ever there is a spirit in them, to endeavour to do something that may prepare for his coming: but a strong Christian hath ever this desire, and if he be a mortified and growing Christian he never wants this hope, and comfort, and earnest longing, and therefore his prayer ever is; Come Lord Jesus.
1To which I answer, it is true; but it is caused by their carelesse carriage, and yet ever there is a spirit in them, to indeavour to doe something that may prepare for his comming: but a strong Christian hath ever this desire, and if hee bee a mortified and growing Christian hee never wants this hope, and comfort, and earnest longing, and therefore his prayer ever is; Come Lord Iesus.
Fourthly, we may observe out of the words; where this hope is, and this expectation, it stirs up and quickens the soul to a holy conversation, it is propounded here as a ground of the Apostles holy conversation.
Fourthly, we may observe out of the words; where this hope is, and this expectation, it stirres up and quickens the soule to a holy conversation, it is propounded here as a ground of the Apostles holy conversation.
For it stirs us up to be pure, even as he is pure, as it is (1 Joh. 3.3.) For we are a holy Spouse, and there will shortly come the marriage day, and fitting it is that we prepare our selves fitting for such a husband. Thus it was ⟨p. 229⟩with the concubines of Akashuerosh, though a temporal and earthly King, yet the custom was, they should be twelve months before they came to the King: and much more should it be our duty, ever more to be prepared to come into the presence of our eternal heavenly King to meet with the bridegroom, because we know not how soon it may be, that he will come and send his Angels for us, to appear before him in glory, to call us to the wedding.
For it stirres us up to be pure, even as hee is pure, as it is (1 Ioh. 3.3.) For wee are a holy Spouse, and there will shortly come the marriage day, and fitting it is that wee prepare our selves fitting for such a husband. Thus it was ⟨p. 229⟩with the concubines of Akashuerosh, though a temporall and earthly King, yet the custome was, they should bee twelve monthes before they came to the King: and much more should it be our dutie, ever more to bee prepared to come into the presence of our eternall heavenly King to meet with the bridegroome, because we know not how soone it may be, that he will come and send his Angels for us, to appeare before him in glory, to call us to the wedding.
Secondly, this hope will stir us up to do all good duties, and to right performance of good duties,§2 to do all things sincerely, as in the presence of God our judge: And therefore not only the duty of preaching is urged upon Timothy, but the manner, 2 Tim. 4. Who is charged by the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge all at his appearing, that he should preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long sufferance. And the Apostle Peter having declared the second coming of Christ, thence infers; what manner of men ought we to be in all godly conversation? 2 Pet. 3.11.) And indeed, meditation of the principles of Religion, will inform us well in the manner of our duties, as in the nature of them, and thus shall we be fruitful in particulars, according as our meditations are directed though the principle matters and objects of our meditation are but few.
Secondly, this hope will stirre us up to doe all good duties, and to right performance of good duties,§2 to doe all things sincerely, as in the presence of God our judge: And therfore not only the duty of preaching is urged upon Timothy, but the manner, 2 Tim. 4. Who is charged by the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall judge all at his appearing, that he should preach the Word, bee instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long sufferance. And the Apostle Peter having declared the second comming of Christ, thence inferres; what manner of men ought wee to be in all godly conversation? 2 Pet. 3.11.) And indeed, meditation of the principles of Religion, will informe us well in the manner of our duties, as in the nature of them, and thus shall we be fruitfull in particulars, according as our meditations are directed though the principle matters and objects of our meditation are but few.
Thirdly, this hope and expectation will stir ⟨p. 230⟩us up to pray for the consummation and bringing to pass the performance of all those promises which are to be performed before the coming of Christ: as that the Gospel should be preached in all places, that the conversion of the Jews might be hastened, and the downfall of Antichrist might speedily come to pass. And this hope will also encourage us and put us forward, that in our several callings and standings, we should help on the performance of them, as much as is in our power to perform, by helping on the building of the Church, and the enlargement of Christs kingdom, and the confusion of his enemies.
Thirdly, this hope and expectation will stirre ⟨p. 230⟩us up to pray for the consummation and bringing to passe the performance of all those promises which are to be performed before the comming of Christ: as that the Gospell should bee preached in all places, that the conversion of the Iewes might be hastened, and the downefall of Antichrist might speedily come to passe. And this hope will also incourage us and put us forward, that in our severall callings and standings, we should helpe on the performance of them, as much as is in our power to performe, by helping on the building of the Church, and the inlargement of Christs kingdome, and the confusion of his enemies.
Lastly, this hope will work in us a sweet and comfortable carriage in all estates and conditions, carrying us through all impediments with courage. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry, and he will come full handed. My reward is with me, (saith Christ) and lest we should think it long before he comes, he told us long ago, that those were the latter days, and that the ends of the world were then come upon them. Do men then molest us, persecute and vex us? let us be comforted, he comes that will tread all our enemies under our feet. Do we find that we have but short spirits, that our graces are but weak? let us not dishearten our selves, he that keeps heaven for us, will give us necessary graces to bring us thither: if we want, go to the God of faith and love, he hath promised to give ⟨p. 231⟩us his spirit, to make all grace abound in us, never to leave us nor forsake us, till he hath perfected his work, in setting us with him in glory.
Lastly, this hope will worke in us a sweet and comfortable carriage in all estates and conditions, carrying us through all impediments with courage. For yet a little while, and hee that shall come will come, and will not tarrie, and hee will come full handed. My reward is with me, (saith Christ) and lest we should thinke it long before he comes, hee told us long agoe, that those were the latter dayes, and that the ends of the world were then come upon them. Doe men then molest us, persecute and vexe us? let us be comforted, hee comes that will tread all our enemies under our feet. Do we find that we have but short spirits, that our graces are but weake? let us not dishearten our selves, hee that keepes heaven for us, will give us necessarie graces to bring us thither: if we want, goe to the God of faith and love, hee hath promised to give ⟨p. 231⟩us his spirit, to make all grace abound in us, never to leave us nor forsake us, till he hath perfected his worke, in setting us with him in glorie.
But to proceed to the object of this expectation, it is Christ who is described unto us by the Saviour, whom he calls also Jesus, which signifies a Saviour: and this he doth, to impress it the deeper into his affections.
But to proceed to the object of this expectation, it is Christ who is described unto us by the Saviour, whom hee calles also Iesus, which signifies a Saviour: and this he doth, to impresse it the deeper into his affections.
I answer,1 it is to perfect our salvation: for redemption of our bodies, and glorious liberty are reserved to his second coming, we look not that he should die any more, but appear as a Lord of glory in glory, without humiliation for sin, having already gotten victory of it.
I answer,1 it is to perfect our salvation: for redemption of our bodies, and glorious libertie are reserved to his second comming, wee looke not that he should die any more, but appeare as a Lord of glorie in glorie, without humiliation for sinne, having already gotten victorie of it.
The observation is,1 that Christ is a Saviour, and the Saviour by way of excellency: he saves all that are of his mystical body, from all evil, and preserves them to all good, he saves their bodies and their souls now from the power of all evil, and hereafter he will free them from all evil, he is the everlasting Saviour, while we live here his blood runs continually, this is the fountain opened for the house of Judah, for sin and uncleanness, in it are we cleansed from the guilt and damnation of sin, what would we have more? We are kept by faith to salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. Let ⟨p. 232⟩this raise up our souls Are we swallowed up with the sense of any misery? Let us know that we trust a Saviour that is every way absolute, that invites those that are sick with sin, to come unto him: and how can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. Heb. 2.3. Away therefore with all •opish conceits of meriting by our works. All glory must be given only to his mercy, all that he did for us was to the glory of his grace, Ephes. 1.6.
The observation is,1 that Christ is a Saviour, and the Saviour by way of excellencie: he saves all that are of his mysticall body, from all evill, and preserves them to all good, hee saves their bodies and their soules now from the power of all evill, and hereafter hee will free them from all evill, he is the everlasting Saviour, while we live here his bloud runnes continually, this is the fountaine opened for the house of Iudah, for sinne and uncleannesse, in it are we cleansed from the guilt and damnation of sinne, what would wee have more? Wee are kept by faith to salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. Let ⟨p. 232⟩this raise up our soules Are wee swallowed up with the sense of any miserie? Let us know that we trust a Saviour that is every way absolute, that invites those that are sicke with sinne, to come unto him: and how can wee escape, if wee neglect so great salvation.
Lastly, this should comfort us when we think of the last day, to think withal, that he shall be our judge that is our Saviour, and therefore should cast away all terror from us, knowing that our head will not destroy his members, but that he our husband being a great King, will also crown us his spouse with a glorious crown, therefore when we see the fore-going signs come to pass, let us lift up our heads, knowing our redemption draweth near.
Lastly, this should comfort us when wee thinke of the last day, to thinke withall, that he shall be our judge that is our Saviour, and therefore should cast away all terrour from us, knowing that our head will not destroy his members, but that hee our husband being a great King, will also crowne us his spouse with a glorious crowne, therefore when wee see the fore-going signes come to passe, let us lift up our heads, knowing our redemption draweth neere.
To go on in the next place, Christ is not only our Saviour, but he is our Lord: wherein we may see the Apostles Christian wisdom, he useth such titles as may most of all strengthen his faith and affection of the present meditation, which being a point of the resurrection, a thing seeming contrary to reason, to flesh and blood: he strengthens himself in this consideration, that he is the Lord, who ha•h all power and authority committed to him, Math. 28.18.
To goe on in the next place, Christ is not only our Saviour, but he is our Lord: wherein we may see the Apostles Christian wisedome, hee useth such titles as may most of all strengthen his faith and affection of the present meditation, which being a point of the resurrection, a thing seeming contrarie to reason, to flesh and bloud: hee strengthens himselfe in this consideration, that he is the Lord, who ha•h all power and authority committed to him, Math. 28.18.
Secondly, he is Lord by title of redemption▪ so as we are no more our own but his, for he hath bought us with a price.
Secondly, he is Lord by title of redemption▪ so as we are no more our owne but his, for he hath bought us with a price.
