glorycloud's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the way to bring faith into the heart "122. The way to bring faith into the heart is, first, there must be a judicious, convincing knowledge of the vanity of all things within us and without us that seems to yield any support to the soul, and then the soul is carried to lay hold on Christ; as David saith, 'I have seen an end of all perfection,' Ps. cxix. 96. Secondly, the soul must be convinced of an excellency in religion above all things in the world, or else it will not rest, for the heart of man would choose the best; and when it is persuaded that the gain in religion is above the world, then it yields. And, thirdly, a consideration of the firmness of the ground whereupon the promise is built. Put God to it, therefore, either to make his promise good, or to disappoint us; and he will be sure to make it good in our forgiveness of sin, proceeding in grace and strength, against temptations in time of trouble." Richard Sibbes "Divine Meditations And Holy Contemplations" found in Volume 7 "Works Of Richard Sibbes" [published by the Banner of Truth Trust]. I am down in our basement trying to not fall asleep. I am too tired to go back out into the world this afternoon. I mentioned this morning there is a sermon by the 17th cent. English Puritan Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) on Luke 10:38-40 "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her house etc." The sermon "Mary's Choice" is found in volume 7 "Works Of Richard Sibbes" pg. 288-297. Sometime before you die read this sermon by Sibbes. So here I sit in our basement listening to The Field and the time is 2:20 PM Tuesday afternoon. Existence keeps flowing by. The Lord is good. "But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" Luke 10:42. I will quote Sibbes comments on this verse--- "A second ground is that there is a spirit of discretion planted in man, to discern of the difference of things, and this he is enabled to by the word especially, for man not this wisdom of himself. Thirdly, The best things in our minds must challenge the chiefest choice and first place in allowing them, then trying them, and lastly choosing them. The good part here meant is "grace and glory". This that which Mary chose, to hear Christ speak for the strengthening of the graces in her, and that thereby she might assure her salvation to herself; and grace is good, because it makes us good. Outward things are snares, and make us worse, but grace commends us to God. All other things are temporal, and death buries them, but grace and glory are in extent equal to our souls, extending to all eternity. Grace and the fruits thereof is our own; all other things are not ours. Grace brings us to the greatest good, and advanceth us to the true nobility of sons and heirs of God, and grace makes us truly wise. It makes us wise to salvation; it makes us truly rich with such riches as we cannot lose. Grace is so good, it makes ill things good, so as afflictions with the word and grace are better than all the pleasures in Pharaoh's court in Moses esteem, Heb. xi. 25. Seeing it is thus, let us be animated by this example of Mary; and to that end, first, beg the Spirit of revelation to open our eyes to see the high prize of our calling, the happiness thereof; and to get a sense and taste of the pleasures thereof, that we may judge by our own experience. For the meanest Christian out of experience knows this to be the good part; and this it is which the apostle prays for, Philip i.10, that the Philippians may approve the things that are excellent. The word signifies in all sense and feeling, to approve the things that are excellent, or do differ." pg.294 Richard Sibbes music: The Field "From Here We Go Sublime" 2:41 p.m. - 2009-12-01 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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