Providence is the perpetuity and continuance of creation. Richard Sibbes More Quotes by Richard Sibbes More Quotes From Richard Sibbes 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. Richard Sibbes covenant grace giving The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory. Richard Sibbes religious winter spring God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. Richard Sibbes picks confused prayer When we shoot an arrow, we look to the fall of it; when we send a ship to sea, we look for its return; and when we sow seed, we look for a harvest; so likewise when we sow our prayers, through Christ, in God's bosom, shall we not look for an answer and observe how we speed? It is a seed of atheism to pray and not to look how we speed. But a sincere Christian will pray and wait, and strengthen his heart with promises out of the Word, and never leave praying and looking up till God gives him a gracious answer. Richard Sibbes prayer christian fall See here, for our comfort, a sweet agreement of all three persons: the Father giveth a commission to Christ; the Spirit furnisheth and sanctifieth to it; Christ himself executeth the office of a Mediator. Our redemption is founded upon the joint agreement of all three persons of the Trinity. Richard Sibbes agreement sweet father Christ chiefly manifests Himself in times of affliction, because then the soul unites itself most closely by faith to Christ. The soul, in time of prosperity, scatters its affections, and looses itself in the creature; but there is a uniting power in sanctified afflictions, by which a believer, (as in rain a hen collects her brood) gathers his best affections unto his Father and his God. Richard Sibbes grace rain father If Christ has once possessed the affections, there is no dispossessing of him again. A fire in the heart overcomes all fires without. Richard Sibbes fire overcoming heart In trouble we are prone to forget all that we have heard and read that makes for our comfort. Now what is the reason that a man comes to think of that which otherwise he should never have called to mind? The Holy Spirit brings it to his remembrance; He is a Comforter, bringing to mind useful things at such times when we have most need of them. Richard Sibbes remembrance men thinking It is a destructive addition to add anything to Christ Richard Sibbes christianity add christ What is the gospel itself but a merciful moderation, in which Christ's obedience is esteemed ours, and our sins laid upon him, wherein God, from being a judge, becomes our Father, pardoning our sins and accepting our obedience, though feeble and blemished? We are now brought to heaven under the covenant of grace by a way of love and mercy. Richard Sibbes judging heaven father Possibilitas tua mensura tua'(What is possible to you is what you will be measured by). Richard Sibbes There is not a minute of time in all of our life but we must either be near to God or we will be undone. Richard Sibbes undone our-lives minutes A Christian is the greatest freeman in the world; he is free from the wrath of God, free from hell and damnation, from the curse of the law; but then, though he be free in these respects, yet, in regard of love, he is the greatest servant. Love abaseth him to do all the good that he can; and the more the Spirit of Christ is in us, the more it will abase us to anything wherein we can be serviceable. Richard Sibbes wrath christian law No sin is so great but the satisfaction of Christ and His mercies are greater; it is beyond comparison. Fathers and mothers in tenderest affections are but beams and trains to lead us upwards to the infinite mercy of God in Christ. Richard Sibbes mercy-of-god mother father The tenets of [the Christian life] seem paradoxes to carnal men; as first, that a Christian is the only freeman, and other men are slaves; that he is the only rich man, though never so poor in the world; that he is the only beautiful man, though outwardly never so deformed; that he is the only happy man in the midst of all his miseries. Richard Sibbes blessing christian beautiful What unthankfulness is it to forget our consolations, and to look upon matters of grievance. To think so much upon two or three crosses as to forget an hundred blessing. Richard Sibbes gratitude blessing thinking When we grow careless of keeping our souls, then God recovers our taste of good things again by sharp crosses. Richard Sibbes thanksgiving religious christian As the strongest faith may be shaken, so the weakest, where truth is, is so far rooted that it will prevail. 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 christian faith lying Let weak Christians know that a spark from heaven, though kindled under green wood that sobs and smokes, yet it will consume all at last. Richard Sibbes blessing christian heaven Therefore, when we find our heart inflamed with love to God, we may know that God hath shined upon our souls in the pardon of sin; and proportionally to our measure of love is our assurance of pardon. Therefore we should labour for a greater measure thereof, that our hearts may be the more inflamed in the love of God. Richard Sibbes soul heart love-is