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Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), one of the most influential figures in the Puritan movement during the earlier years of the seventeenth century, was renowned for the rich quality of his ministry. The Bruised Reed is a book by Richard Sibbes that comforts the despondent and fearful Christian using the words of Matthew 12:20 (which quotes Isaiah), A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Many Christians have found this book to be remedy to doubt and burden.
This exposition breaks down into three basic parts: (1) Christ will not break the bruised reed; (2) Christ will not quench the smoking flax; (3) Christ will not do either of these things until he has sent forth judgment into victory. Sibbes explains the main text under these three headings and then intersperses searching application throughout the book. In this book powerfully written book the Puritan preacher provides a tenderhearted, Christ-exalting exposition and application of Isaiah 42:1-3. Since its initial publication in 1630, The Bruised Reed has been a source of encouragement to people at every stage of their spiritual journey alike; regardless if you are searching for God, just starting a relationship with Him, striving in your relationship with God or surrendered to God and His will; this book can be helpful for you.
Written in 1630 by the Puritan theologian Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed is a famous Christian devotional book and cherished classic in Christian literature. Sibbes was known for his pastoral care and deep understanding of the human condition, and The Bruised Reed reflects his compassionate and encouraging approach to guiding people in their spiritual journeys.
The title of the book is derived from a verse in the Bible, Isaiah 42:3, which reads: A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Sibbes uses this verse as a metaphor to illustrate the tender care and compassion of Jesus Christ towards those who are broken, discouraged, and spiritually wounded.
The central theme of the book revolves around the idea that Christ is gentle and merciful, especially towards those who feel weak, burdened by their sins, or struggling in their faith. Sibbes emphasizes that Christ's love and grace are available to all, regardless of their shortcomings or failures. He encourages readers to turn to Christ as the source of comfort, healing, and restoration.
Throughout the book, Sibbes explores various aspects of the Christian life, such as the believer's relationship with Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, the importance of repentance and faith, and the assurance of salvation. He uses biblical references and anecdotes to illustrate his points and provide practical guidance for readers to grow in their faith and trust in God's unfailing love.
Because of its gentle and encouraging tone, The Bruised Reed has been a comfort and solace for many who sought spiritual peace and direction.
In his book Preachers and Preaching, Martyn Lloyd-Jones noted, I shall never cease to be grateful to Richard Sibbes, who was balm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked and badly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to the onslaughts of the devil.... I found at that time that Richard Sibbes... was an unfailing remedy. His books The Bruised Reed and The Soul's Conflict quietened, soothed, comforted, encouraged, and healed me.
In this book, Sibbes reflects on Psalm 42:11 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
There be two sorts of people always in the visible Church; one that Satan keeps under with false peace, whose life is nothing but a diversion to present contentments, and a running away from God and their own hearts, which they know can speak no good unto them, these speak peace to themselves, but God speaks none. Such have nothing to do with this scripture; the way for these men to enjoy comfort, is to be soundly troubled. True peace arises from knowing the worst first, and then our freedom from it. It is a miserable peace that ariseth from ignorance of evil. The angel troubled the waters, John v., and then cured those that stepped in. It is Christ's manner to trouble our souls first, and then to come with healing in his wings.
But there is another sort of people, who being drawn out of Satan's kingdom and within the covenant of grace, whom Satan labours to unsettle and disquiet: being the god of the world, he is vexed to see men in the world, walk above the world. Since he cannot hinder their estate, he will trouble their peace, and damp their spirits, and cut asunder the sinews of all their endeavours.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
There is no better introduction to the Puritans than the writings of Richard Sibbes, who is, in many ways, a typical Puritan. Sibbes never wastes the student's time, ' wrote C. H. Spurgeon, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands.'
Since its first publication in 1630, The Bruised Reed has been remarkably fruitful as a source of spiritual help and comfort. Richard Baxter records: A poor peddler came to the door . . . and my father bought of him Sibbe's Bruised Reed . . . It suited my state . . . and gave me a livelier apprehension of the mystery of redemption and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ . . . Without any means but books was God pleased to resolve me to himself.' Such testimonies could be multiplied.
Speaking of the preacher's need to suit his reading to the varying conditions he finds within, Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones says in his Preaching and Preachers:
You will find, I think, in general that the Puritans are almost invariably helpful . . . I shall never cease to be grateful to one of them called Richard Sibbes who was balm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked and badly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to the onslaughts of the devil. In that state and condition . . . what you need is some gentle, tender treatment for your soul. I found at that time that Richard Sibbes, who was known in London in the early seventeenth century as the heavenly Doctor Sibbes', was an unfailing remedy. His books The Bruised Reed and The Soul's Conflict quietened, soothed, comforted, encouraged and healed me.
The prophet Isaiah, being lifted up and carried with the wing of a prophetical spirit, passes over all the time between him and the appearing of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Seeing with the eye of prophecy, and with the eye of faith, Christ as present, he presents him, in the name of God, to the spiritual eye of others, in these words: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth' (Isa. 42:1 3). These words are alleged by Matthew as fulfilled now in Christ (Matt. 12:18 20). In them are propounded, first, the calling of Christ to his office; secondly, the manner in which he carries it out.
Bruising is needed so that reeds may know they are reeds, not oaks. Reeds need to be bruised because of the pride in our nature, the removal of which lets us live by mercy and faith. It is a difficult thing to bring a dull heart to cry for mercy. Our hearts, like malefactors, until they are beaten from all sides, never naturally cry for mercy from the Judge. But this bruising makes us set a high price upon Christ. It makes us more thankful and more fruitful in our lives.
Whatever claim sin has on a man, bruising or breaking is the end of it. This spark of hope, being opposed by doubts and fears arising from the corruption of sin, makes him as smoking flax. Thus, both these together, a bruised reed and smoking flax, make up the state of a poor, distressed man. Our Savior terms such a one as poor in spirit.
Christ will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax. Though physicians put their patients through much pain, they will not destroy their patients' bodies but will do their best to heal them. Surgeons will cut, but not dismember. A mother will not cast away a sick or disobedient child. Shall we think there is more mercy in ourselves than in God, who plants the affection of mercy in us? To further declare Christ's mercy to all bruised reeds, consider the comforting relationship He has taken upon Himself of husband, shepherd, and brother, which He will discharge to the utmost.
It cannot but cheer the heart of the church to consider, despite all the infirmities and miseries she is subject to, that she has a Bridegroom with a kind disposition. He knows how to give the honor of kindness to the weaker vessel and will be so far from rejecting her because she is weak that He will pity her all the more. He is kind at all times and will speak to her heart, especially when in the wilderness.
Richard Sibbes (or Sibbs) (1577-1635) was an Anglican theologian. He is known as a Biblical exegete, and as a representative, with William Perkins and John Preston, of what has been called main-line Puritanism because he ever remained in the Church of England and worshiped according to the Book of Common Prayer.
He 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 was 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.
His works were much read in New England. Thomas Hooker, prominent there from 1633, was directly influenced by Sibbes, and his espousal theology, using marriage as a religious metaphor, draws on The Bruised Reed and Bowels Opened.
The poet George Herbert was a contemporary, and there are suggestions on parallels. Where Herbert speaks in The Church Militant about the westward movement of the propagation of the gospel, Christopher Hill comments that this may have come from The Bruised Reed. Other examples have been proposed by Doerksen.
Sibbes was cited by the Methodist John Wesley. The Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon studied his craft in Sibbes, Perkins and Thomas Manton. The evangelical Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote in the highest terms of his own encounter with the work of Sibbes. (wikipedia.org)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Richard Sibbes, frequently called the heavenly Sibbes, was admired both for his preaching and his godly life. Izaac Walton, author of the Compleat Angler and contemporary of Sibbes, wrote of him:
Of this blest man, let this just praise be given, Heaven was in him, before he was in heaven.
Spurgeon wrote Sibbes never wastes the student's time. He scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands. More recently, Martyn Lloyd-Jones stated I shall never cease to be grateful to Richard Sibbes who was balm to my soul. Indeed, Sibbes' works have offered enlightenment and comfort to Christians over the last four centuries.
This collection, a classic of Puritan thought and spirituality, contains some of his best-known writings-The Bruised Reed, The Soul's Conflict, and Christ is Best. The complete contents are: Memoir of Richard Sibbes, Description of Christ, The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax, The Sword of the Wicked, The Soul's Conflict with Itself and Victory over Itself by Faith, The Saint's Safety in Evil Times, Christ is Best; Or St. Paul's Strait, Christ's Suffering for Man's Sin, The Church's Visitation, The Ungodly's Misery, The Difficulty of Salvation, The Saint's Hiding-Place in the Evil Day.