In spiritual things there is no basis for envy, for everyone may partake of everything. In the things of this life there is envy, because the more one has, the less another has. But for more to partake of spiritual things is a matter of glory and excellency.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
The happiness of man consists in communion with God and conformity to Him.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
There must be Spirit in me as there is Spirit in the Scriptures, before I can see anything.
– Richard Sibbes –
1577-1635
Where the Spirit of Christ is it also convinces (John 16:8). That is, it brings clear evident conviction with it, that the truth of God is the truth of God.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
If, as the Psalmist says, “he made us, and not we ourselves” (Psa. 100:3), shall we think that we have a hand in making ourselves again? Will God allow his glory to be encroached upon by intercessions of saints’ merits, and satisfaction, and free will? Grace is not glorious if we add the least thing of our own to it.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
With the freedom of spirit, there is courage and strength of faith against opposition… It gives him courage and strength to resist. The more opposition, the more courage he has. When the early Christians had the Spirit of God (Acts 4:23ff), they resisted opposition, and the more they were opposed, the more they grew. They were cast in prison, and rejoiced. And the more they were imprisoned, the more courageous they were still.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.
– Richard Sibbes –
The life of a Christian is wondrously ruled in this world, by the consideration and meditation of the life of another world.
– Richard Sibbes –
You see, then, that the grace in the gospel is not mere persuasion and entreaty, but a powerful work of the Spirit entering into the soul and changing it, and altering the inclination of the will heavenward. We must have great notions of the work of grace. The Scripture has great words of it. It is an alternation, a change, a new man, a new creation, a new birth.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 106
