Richard Sibbes

Richard SibbesRichard Sibbes (1577–1635) was born in Tostock, Suffolk, where his father was a wheelwright; other sources say Sudbury. He attended St. John’s College, Cambridge from 1595. He was lecturer at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, from 1610 or 1611 to 1615 or 1616. It is erroneously held by 18th and 19th century scholars that Sibbes was deprived of his various academic posts on account of his Puritanism. In fact he was never deprived of any of his posts, due to his ingenuity of the system.

He was then preacher at Gray’s Inn, London, from 1617, returning to Cambridge as Master of Catherine Hall in 1626, without giving up the London position.

Also in 1626, the support group known as the Feoffees for Impropriations was set up, and Sibbes was a founder member (it built on an informal grouping dating back to 1613). It was closely linked to St Antholin, Budge Row, for its seven years of existence: it was shut down in 1633. With others, he worked to fund and provide platforms for preachers. He was one of four ministers in the original feoffees, the other members being chosen as four lawyers and four laymen. [More via Wikipedia] [A much longer biography by Alexander Balloch Grosart can be found here.]

The (Nearly Complete) Works of Richard Sibbes:

The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax. (191 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Matthew 12:20. Edition of 1878, with an introductory essay by Alexander Beith.
See also volume 1 of Sibbes’ Works, below.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 1. (557 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Individual titles from this volume are listed below:

  1. Biographical Preface (by Alexander Balloch Grosart, 1827–1899), pdf, 124 pp.
  2. A Description of Christ (Matthew 12:18) – pdf, 31 pp.
  3. The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax (Matthew 12:20) – pdf, 70 pp.
  4. The Sword of the Wicked (Psalm 42:10) – pdf, 16 pp.
  5. The Soul’s Conflict with Itself, and Victory Over Itself by Faith (Psalm 42:11) – pdf, 178 pp.
  6. The Saint’s Safety in Evil Times (Psalm 7:14) – pdf, 18 pp.
  7. The Saint’s Safety in Evil Times (2 Timothy 4:17–18) – pdf, 21 pp.
  8. Christ is Best (or, St. Paul’s Strait, Philippians 1:23–24) – pdf, 16 pp.
  9. Christ’s Sufferings for Man’s Sin (Matthew 27:46) – pdf, 19 pp.
  10. The Church’s Visitation – a series of five sermons on 1 Peter 4:17–19: pdf, 55 pp.
    1. The Church’s Visitation (1 Peter 4:17–19) – pdf, 12 pp.
    2. The Ungodly’s Misery (1 Peter 4:17) – pdf, 10 pp.
    3. The Difficulty of Salvation (1 Peter 4:18) – pdf, 6 pp.
    4. The Saint’s Hiding-Place in the Evil Day (two sermons on 1 Peter 4:19) – pdf, 25 pp.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 2. (531 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Individual titles from this volume are listed below:

  1. Bowels Opened (or, A discovery of the near and dear love, union and communion between Christ and the Church, 20 sermons on Song of Solomon 5:1–6:3) – pdf, 192 pp.
  2. The Spouse, Her Earnest Desire After Christ (Song of Solomon 1:2) – pdf, 12 pp.
  3. A Breathing After God (Psalm 27:4) – pdf, 40 pp.
  4. The Returning Backslider (16 sermons on Hosea 14:1–9) – pdf, 188 pp.
  5. The Marriage Feast Between Christ and His Church (or, The glorious feast of the Gospel; Christ’s gracious invitation and royal entertainment of believers, Isaiah 25:6–9) – pdf, 83 pp.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 3. (544 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Contains a commentary on 2 Corinthians 1.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 4. (544 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Treatises and sermons from 1 & 2 Corinthians:

  1. A Christian’s Portion (or, The Christian’s Charter, 1 Corinthians 3:21–23) – pdf, 38 pp.
  2. The Spiritual Man’s Aim (1 Corinthians 7:29–31) – pdf, 20 pp.
  3. The Right Receiving (1 Corinthians 11:28–29) – pdf, 16 pp.
  4. Judgment’s Reason (two sermons on 1 Corinthians 11:30–32) – pdf, 38 pp.
  5. Yea and Amen (or, Precious Promises and Privileges, 2 Corinthians 1:19–23) – pdf, 37 pp.
  6. A Glance of Heaven (or, A Precious Taste of a Glorious Feast, four sermons on 1 Corinthians 2:9) – pdf, 51 pp.
  7. The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law (2 Corinthians 3:17–18) – pdf, 105 pp.
  8. An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 4:6–18 – pdf, 183 pp.
  9. The Church’s Riches by Christ’s Poverty (2 Corinthians 8:9) – pdf, 39 pp.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 5. (564 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Containing expositions and treatises from portions of several of the epistles of the apostle Paul:

  1. The Christian Work (Philippians 2:12–16) – pdf, 35 pp.
  2. Of the Providence of God (Philippians 2:24–30) – pdf, 21 pp.
  3. An Exposition of Philippians 3 – pdf, 101 pp.
  4. The Redemption of Bodies (a funeral sermon on Philippians 3:21) – pdf, 19 pp.
  5. The Art of Contentment (Philippians 4:11–13) – pdf, 19 pp.
  6. The Power of Christ’s Resurrection (Colossians 3:1) – pdf, 7 pp.
  7. The Hidden Life (Colossians 3:3–4) – pdf, 16 pp.
  8. The Spiritual Jubilee (Romans 8:2) – pdf, 30 pp.
  9. The Privileges of the Faithful (Romans 8:28) – pdf, 37 pp.
  10. The Christian’s End (five sermons on Romans 14:7–8) – pdf, 37 pp.
  11. Christ’s Exaltation Purchased by Humiliation (three sermons on Romans 14:9) – pdf, 35 pp.
  12. The Life of Faith (two sermons on Galatians 2:20) – pdf, 29 pp.
  13. Salvation Applied (Galatians 2:20) – pdf, 24 pp.
  14. A Fountain Sealed (Ephesians 4:30) – pdf, 48 pp.
  15. The Fountain Opened (or, The Mystery of Godliness Revealed, 1 Timothy 3:16) – pdf, 84 pp.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 6. (562 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Individual titles from this volume are listed below:

  1. The Faithful Covenanter (Genesis 17:7) – pdf, 24 pp.
  2. Josiah’s Reformation (four sermons on 2 Chronicles 34:26–28) – pdf, 65 pp.
    1. The Tender Heart (2 Chronicles 34:26) – pdf, 15 pp.
    2. The Art of Self-Humbling (2 Chronicles 34:27) – pdf, 15 pp.
    3. The Art of Mourning (2 Chronicles 34:27) – pdf, 17 pp.
    4. The Saint’s Refreshing (2 Chronicles 34:28) – pdf, 15 pp.
  3. The Spiritual Favorite at the Throne of Grace (Nehemiah 1:11) – pdf, 18 pp.
  4. The Successful Seeker (Psalm 27:8) – pdf, 24 pp.
  5. A Rescue from Death, with a Return of Praise (Psalm 107:17) – pdf, 25 pp.
  6. The Saint’s Comforts (an exposition of Psalm 130) – pdf, 22 pp.
  7. The Church’s Complaint and Confidence (Isaiah 64:6–8) – pdf, 23 pp.
  8. God’s Inquisition (Jeremiah 8:6–7) – pdf, 24 pp.
  9. The Rich Poverty (or, The Poor Man’s Riches, Zephaniah 3:12) – pdf, 35 pp.
  10. Spiritual Mourning (two sermons on Matthew 5:4) – pdf, 28 pp.
  11. Violence Victorious (Matthew 11:12) – pdf, 22 pp.
  12. Angels’ Acclamations (Luke 2:13–14) – pdf, 42 pp.
  13. The Fruitful Labor for Eternal Food (John 6:27) – pdf, 25 pp.
  14. The Matchless Love and Inbeing (two sermons on John 17:26) – pdf, 30 pp.
  15. A Heavenly Conference Between Christ and Mary After His Resurrection (John 20:16) – pdf, 74 pp.
  16. King David’s Epitaph (or, An Epitome of the Life and Death of King David, Acts 13:36) – pdf, 30 pp.
  17. Lydia’s Conversion (Acts 16:14–15) – pdf, 18 pp.
  18. The Bride’s Longing for Her Bridegroom’s Second Coming (Revelation 22:20) – pdf, 26 pp.

The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 7. (624 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Containing miscellaneous sermons:

  1. Balaam’s Wish (Numbers 23:10) – pdf, 13 pp.
  2. The Unprosperous Builder (Joshua 6:26) – pdf, 16 pp.
  3. The Vanity of the Creature (2 Samuel 19:34–38) – pdf, 15 pp.
  4. Discouragement’s Recovery (Psalm 43:5) – pdf, 16 pp.
  5. The Saint’s Happiness (Psalm 73:28) – pdf, 14 pp.
  6. David’s Conclusion (or, The Saint’s Resolution, Psalm 73:28) – pdf, 13 pp.
  7. The Church’s Blackness (Song of Solomon 1:5–6) – pdf, 12 pp.
  8. Miracle of Miracles (two sermons on Isaiah 7:14) – pdf, 22 pp.
  9. The Touchstone of Regeneration (Isaiah 11:6–9) – pdf, 11 pp.
  10. The Discrete Ploughman (Isaiah 28:23–29) – pdf, 12 pp.
  11. The Matchless Mercy (Micah 7:18–20) – pdf, 14 pp.
  12. The Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2–3) – pdf, 14 pp.
  13. Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations – pdf, 50 pp.
  14. The Knot of Prayer Loosed (Matthew 7:7–10) – pdf, 24 pp.
  15. The Rich Pearl (Matthew 13:45–46) – pdf, 8 pp.
  16. Sin’s Antidote (Matthew 26:28) – pdf, 19 pp.
  17. The Success of the Gospel (Luke 7:31–35) – pdf, 8 pp.
  18. Mary’s Choice (Luke 10:38–40) – pdf, 10 pp.
  19. The Christian’s Watch (Luke 12:37) – pdf, 8 pp.
  20. The Coming of Christ (Revelation 16:15) – pdf, 10 pp.
  21. The General Resurrection (John 11:23-24) – pdf, 19 pp.
  22. Sibbes’ Last Two Sermons (two sermons on John 14:1) – pdf, 22 pp.
  23. The Saint’s Privilege (John 16:8–10) – pdf, 10 pp.
  24. The Witness of Salvation (Romans 8:15–16) – pdf, 19 pp.
  25. Saint Paul’s Challenge (Romans 8:31) – pdf, 12 pp.
  26. The Dead Man (Ephesians 2:1) – pdf, 10 pp.
  27. The Danger of Backsliding (2 Timothy 4:10) – pdf, 6 pp.
  28. Faith Triumphant (Hebrews 11:13) – pdf, 48 pp.
  29. The Ruin of Mystical Jericho (Hebrews 11:30) – pdf, 16 pp.
  30. The Demand of a Good Conscience (1 Peter 3:21) – pdf, 14 pp.
  31. A Glimpse of Glory (2 Peter 1:3) – pdf, 13 pp.
  32. The Pattern of Purity (1 John 3:3) – pdf, 12 pp.
  33. The Beast’s Dominion Over Earthly Kings (Revelation 17:17) – pdf, 18 pp.
  34. The Church’s Echo (Revelation 22:17) – pdf, 12 pp.
  35. Antidotum Contra Naufragium Fidei et Bonae Conscientiae (2 Timothy 1:14) – pdf, 14 pp. Entirely in Latin.

Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations. (153 pages)
[pdf web via Google Books]
Presented here as in individual title (it is part of volume 7 of Sibbes’s Works above).

The Returning Backslider. (520 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Hosea 13.

The Soul’s Conflict and Victory Over Itself by Faith. (368 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
Psalm 42. Presented here as in individual title (it is part of volume 1 of Sibbes’s Works above).

3 thoughts on “Richard Sibbes”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *