The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Vol. 5

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have alivays obeyed, not as in wy presence only, but now much m,ore in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. — Phil. II. 12.

The first word, ' wherefore,' carries our minds back to things formerly delivered. Before, the apostle had taught them out of the example of Christ that they should not mind their own things : ' He went about doing good,' and humbled himself. Now when God is humble, how shall any man be proud ? Having therefore such an example as Christ, without all exception, as he hath done do you, be obedient, &c. In the words consider.

First, The duty, ' work.'

Secondly, Directions to the right manner of performing this duty.

Thirdly, The motives to this duty.

The manner of performance of this work : First, it must be in sincerity ; secondly, in obedience ; thirdly, it must be earnestly and thoroughly ; fourthly, it must be constant ; fifthly, it must be ever tending to assure to us our salvation ; sixthly, it must be in fear, or holy jealousy. The motives to this duty : First, Christ, he was obedient, follow him ; secondly, ' my beloved,' that is, as you shew or deserve my care of you and diligence to do you good, obey ; thirdly, you have done it heretofore : it is no new thing I require ; it is not impossible ; you have done it already; fourthly, if you do, it shall not be in vain. It tends to the assurance of salvation here, and to the accomplishment thereof hereafter, therefore ' work.'

1. * Work.' The estate of a Christian is a working estate, not idle. Christianity is not a verbal profession, nor speculative. ' If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them,' saith Christ, John xiii. 17. Observe, he placeth the word ' blessed ' in the midst, to unite those two which the world so ordinarily divides. I mean knowledge and practice. If words would go for excellent payment, many there are that would be admirable Christians ; but we must know that a Christian's estate is accomplished by works ; and that not only outwardly but inwardly, and by all manner of works : works of preparation; works of propriety;* and these inward, or outward and all, is in our general or particular calling.

Works of preparation are those that prepare men to believe ; as hear- * That is, 'appropriation.' — Ed.

ing, reading, meditating ; for these make not a Christian, but by these a Christian is prepared to be wrought on by God's Spirit. In these a Christian must be still working, and from these he ought to proceed to works of propriety : as belief in God, hope more strongly ; love more ardently ; pray fervently ; do works of charity cheerfully — the three first duties being inward, the two last outward. And these concern our general callings as we are Clmstians, and then in our particular callings, to love, to reverence one another ; seek the good of others, and to be bountiful to others. A Christian he must work in all these.

Use. The use of all this is, to cause in us a right conceit of religion. Many are good talkers, use fair words, are excellent in discourse ; and these pass for current Christians. Nay, many there are that come not to this degree of speaking well. No ; cannot endure to hear others speak well, but endeavour to turn their speech to other matters. Yet these go for good Christians, and think they shall be saved as well as the best, when, alas ! they never came one step to salvation. Thus for the work. Now,

2. To the manner. He said before, ' As you have heretofore obeyed, even so work now,' shewing the first thing :

(1.) That all our works must he clone in obedience. Whatsoever we do, it must be done in obedience to God. Many are damned for misdoing their good works, because they did them not in obedience to God. To this end it is expedient.

First, That we should know what God's will is : Rom. xii. 2, ' That you may prove what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God,' saith the apostle ; and in the Ephesians v. 10, ' Proving what is acceptable to the Lord.' And therefore an ignorant man is a rebellious man. When he knows not God's will, how can he do his will ?

Secondly, This obedience must be to all God's laivs, for partial obedience is no obedience. For he is a lord, and not a servant, that will cull and pick out his obedience. ' Then shall I not be confounded,' saith David, ' when I have respect to all thy commandments,' Ps. cxix. 6. It is the devil's sophistry to put men in heart with the consideration of some few good duties that they have done ; when, alas ! if a fowl or bird be catched by one wing or leg, it is as sure as if a man had her whole body in his hand. The devil hath a man as sure in one sin unrepented as in many ; and therefore the apostle limits not this obedience, but lays it down indefinitely.

(2.) The second thing in the manner is, that this rcorking must he in sincerity. ' Whether I am present to see you or not, obey God : he sees you.' A Christian must do all things sincerely, as in the presence of God. The Pharisees did many good works, but it was to be seen of men. Therefore Christ saith, ' they have their reward already,' Mat. vi. 2. I will pay them no wages ; they did it not to please me. Many are this way faulty. They do nothing but for applause : pray in public for fashion sake, never in private ; whenas Christ saith, * Enter into thy chamber, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret,' Mat. vi, 6, Many can talk well and discourse well ; but for inward graces they never look nor regard : and it is this that upholds many Christians. They see religion is respected of those of whom they desire to be had in some esteem, but God sees thy hypocrisy, and thou hast thy reward.