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 –
When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore opposeth us all he can.
– 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
There can be no victory where there is no combat. The victory lieth not upon us but upon Christ, who hath taken upon him, as to conquer for us, so to conquer in us. Let us not look so much who are our enemies, as who is our Judge and Captain; not what they threaten, but what He promiseth.
– Richard Sibbes –
Those that look to be happy must first look to be holy.
– Richard Sibbes –
(1577–1635)
When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, and therefore opposeth us all he can.
– Richard Sibbes –