The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Vol. 4

EXPOSITION OF 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER IV. AND, THE CHURCh's RICHES.

PKINTED BT JOHN GRKIG AM> SOK,

As a fitting sequel to Vol. III., which contains the Exposition of 2 Corinthians chap, i., the present will be found to bring together all Sibbes's Treatises and Sermons founded upon other texts or portions of the Two Epistles to the Corinthians. A. B. G.

The Epistle to the Reader. ..... 2

The occasion of the words ; — all persons, things, and events, a

The ivorld, natural, civil, ecclesiastical ; wicked men. , . 8

A sweet consideration against the fear of death. . . 13

Cases concerning property, alms, liberty in the use of things,

Nothing can harm the Christian. .... 20

Fourfold restraint on the Christian in his use of things. . 23

All our privileges to be seen first in Christ. ... 26

How to know whether Christ be ours and we his. . . 29

Our communion with God through a mediator. . . . 32

* Abridged from the original Tables. The Indices in our closing volume of the works will preserve all the minuter details here omitted. — G.

Way to satisfy particular cases of conscience.

Religion meddleth with all matters.

Shortness of life and of opportunity.

Advices to young and old. ....

Using the world lawful. ....

The world a fashion or shew, while religion is real.

Why Christians are excessive in carnal things. .

God convicts his people, especially for irreverent coming to the sacrament. .....

Sickness and weakness of the body a fruit of sin.

Backwardness in the duty of judging ourselves.

God's Children not condemned ^\-ith the world.

Delivered from condemnation bv correction and chastisement.

The mystery of the gospel hid from natural men.

God means a special good to his beloved children.

Ground of the martyrs" patience.

Wisdom of God hid from wise men.

What true riches and beauty are.

Knowledge of the things of heaven, how to be acquir

God's people prepared in this world for heaven

Four things observable in love.

Effects of the love of God.

Love the most characteristic grace of a Christian

Directions for growing in the love of God.

How Christ hath and giveth the Spirit.

Spirit given in greatest measure after Christ's resurrection

Why Christians are so dark-spirited.

The Spii'it the soul of the soul.

Directions how to get the Spmt.

Spiritual libei-ty and bondage.

How the Spirit worketh hberty.

All whom Christ redeems he frees.

No benefit by Chi-ist \vithout union.

Sanctification springs from justification.

Christians rule their lusts.

Four rules concerning the freedom of the Spirit.

Three degi'ees in the way to heaven.

How the Spirit is grieved.

Three differences between the Law and the Gospel.

Four excellencies in the covenant of grace.

The grace and free mercy of God his glory.

Glory of God greatest in the gospel.

Christ's mind discovered in the gospel. The sacraments glasses to see God's love in Christ. Faith compai'ed to sight in four particulars. Hindrances to our beholding Christ.

We have boldness in the gospel.

How to read the life of Christ in the gospel.

How to become like Christ.

Three comfortable sights seen in the glass of the gospel

Four degrees of the glory of a Christian.

Why the world despiseth those that are gracioiis.

Grace and glory go both under one name.

Degrees in the glory of a Christian.

Christians compared to the best things.

Marks whereby we know that we have the Spirit.

Epistle Dedicatory. To the Reader.

' The Christian's Portion' was published originally in 1637, and forms a tiny volume of 67 pages. It is very imperfect. Its title-page is given below.* This, the first edition, was superseded in the following year, by a much ' enlarged' -and ' corrected' one, from evidently fuller and more accurate ' notes.' The latter is followed in our reprint. Its title-page will also be found below.f Prefixed to it is Marshall's smaller portrait of Sibbes. G.

«■ The Christians Portion. "Wherein is unfolded the unsearchable Riches he hath by his interest in Christ. Whom injoying hee possesseth aU things else.

to the Honorable Society of GrayesInne, and Master of Catherine

for John Kothwell, and

are to be sold at the Sunne in Pauls

t The Christians Portion, or. The Charter of a Christian, (so stiled by the Eeverend Author.) "Wherein are laide open those unsearchable riches and priviledges, he hath by his interest in Christ : whom enjoying, he possesseth all things else.

Grates Inne, and Master of

Printed by J. 0. for John Rothwell,

and are to be sold at the Sunne in

* , « The T. G. and P. N. on both of these title-pages were Dr Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye. Cf. Vol. II., page 3, but for Hanburg read Hanbury. G.

Good Reader ! didst thou ever yet read over thy own heart and life, and mend in some degree what was amiss in both ? If not, what comfort can this treatise afford thee ? If so, what comfort can it not ? This short discourse lays open a great matter. It is a counterpane of a Christian's charter. The author himself styles it ' The Christian's Charter.'

If thy Ufe be good, thy tenure is large ; yea, larger than that of the Corinthians. The apostles, as Paul, ApoUos,* and Cephas were theirs ; so they are thine. And besides them, all that have succeeded them, the faithful ministers of the gospel, and all their studies and writings. The reverend author of this treatise is thine, and this book is thine ; thine to shew thee how much is thine. Let me be thine also to commend this w'ork to thee, and to pray for thee, that as the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha's man to see the mountain full of horses and chariots, and more with them than against them, 2 Kings vi. 17, so he would open thine, to see thy great riches and privileges in Jesus Christ. The want of sight makes us think we want. Post over the two great volumes of heaven and earth, and thou shalt find thyself wealthy.