11 Quotes & Sayings By Richard Sibbes

Richard Sibbes was a Puritan divine, who, as the minister of the parish of Boston, preached a series of sermons on “The Morning and Evening Sacrifice.” These doctrines were directed against the loose morals of the age. The first part of Sibbes’s creed—the morning sacrifice—was addressed to the whole congregation. The second part—the evening sacrifice—was directed to those who were afflicted with a particular vice. In the early days of the Protestant Reformation, Sibbes had been a student at Cambridge, and had made many friends there Read more

When he came to America he preached at Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was soon introduced to Boston society. In 1622 he came to Salem and was pastor there for two years. In 1624 he accepted a call from a church in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

This position he held until his death in 1643.

1
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. Richard Sibbes
2
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. Richard Sibbes
3
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. Richard Sibbes
4
It should be the art of Christians to present death as a passage to a better life, to labour to bring our souls into such a condition, as to think death not to be a death to us, but the death of itself. Death dies when I die, and I begin to live when I die. It is a sweet passage to life. We never live till we die. Richard Sibbes
5
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. Richard Sibbes
6
Live desired in the world, and die lamented. Richard Sibbes
7
God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. Richard Sibbes
8
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 ofbricks 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. . Richard Sibbes
9
Where Christ’s Spirit is, it will bring men from their altitudes and excellencies, and make them to stoop to serve the church, and account it an honour to be an instrument to do good. Richard Sibbes
10
There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. Richard Sibbes