Puritan Reading Challenge

By Jennifer Partin

This month's book for the Puritan Reading Challenge is The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes.

Sibbes was born in 1577. Sibbes' father wanted him to follow in his footsteps by being a wheelwright, but instead Sibbes attended St. John's College in Cambridge. It was here that Sibbes became a Christian when he was exposed to the powerful preaching of Paul Bayne. After his conversion, Sibbes became and was known as a Christ-centered, experiential preacher. The foundation of Richard Sibbes preaching and ministry, in essence, is what we now know as the book, The Bruised Reed.

I must admit, I struggled with reading Sibbes, not because of the language or the choices of words that he used but because I am such a voracious reader. I would read too quickly and would gloss over what needed to be chewed. Therefore, I decided that I needed to be deliberate in my reading. I needed a time when everything could be quiet, a time when I could be free of the distractions of 6 children and the duties that come along with motherhood.

But, the most important thing in being able to read Sibbes' book was to be able to put the book down. I needed to leave time for myself to ponder and reflect on what I was reading. I needed to follow Tim's advice to set aside 30 minutes and to read only 6-7 pages a day, not so that I could finish the book but so that I could read the book.

So in the evenings once the children are in bed, I curl up with Sibbes and read only one chapter at a time. And when I took the time to slow down and really read, I began to find 'the pearls and diamonds' that C. H. Spurgeon says that Sibbes is known to throw, 'with both hands'.

It's no wonder 'Satan hates the use of pens' as Luther says,

And this is why------

Chpt.1 The Reed and the Bruising

The title of Sibbes' book comes from the Scripture passage Isaiah 42:1-3, where the prophet writes:

Behold, My servant,
Whom I uphold;
Mine elect,
in whom my soul delighteth.
I have put My Spirit upon
Him;
He shall bring forth judgement
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.

What I enjoyed most by reading this first Chapter were the fresh statements of old truth. Listen to Sibbes words and see if you don't agree as to why he is called 'the heavenly Doctor.'

In speaking of Christ, and who He was to deal with and why He was to deal with them. Sibbes says,

"the condition of those with whom he was to deal was that they were bruised reeds and smoking flax; not trees, but reeds; and not whole, but bruised reeds." (p.3)

And about us, Sibbes writes,

"God's children are bruised reeds before their conversion and oftentimes after...........

.........we are bruised reeds, yet in different degrees, as God sees fit. And as there are differences with regard to temperament, gifts and manner of life, so there are in God's intention to use men in the time to come; for usually he empties such of themselves, and makes them nothing, before he will use them in any great services." (p.3)

And why the bruising?

Sibbes explains in these words,

"This bruising is required before conversion that so the Spirit may make way for himself into the heart by levelling all proud, high thoughts, and that we may understand ourselves to be what indeed we are by nature. We love to wander from ourselves and to be strangers at home, till God bruises us by one cross or other, and then we 'begin to think', and come home to ourselves with the prodigal (Luke 15:17). It is a very hard thing to bring a dull and an evasive heart to cry with feeling for mercy. Our hearts, like criminals, until they be beaten from all evasions, never cry for the mercy of the Judge. Again, this bruising makes us set a high price upon Christ. Then the gospel becomes the gospel indeed; then the fig- leaves of morality will do us no good. And it makes us more thankful, and, from thankfulness, more fruitful in our lives; for what makes many so cold and barren, but that bruising for sin never endeared God's grace to them?" (p.4)

But, why still all the more bruising? Sibbes goes on to explain further,

"Likewise this dealing of God establishes us the more in his ways, having had knocks and bruisings in our own ways. This is often the cause of relapses and apostasy, because men never smarted for sin at the first; they were not long enough under the lash of the law. Hence this inferior work of the Spirit in bringing down high thoughts (2Cor. 10:5) is necessary before conversion. And, for the most part, the Holy Spirit, to further the work of conviction, joins with it some affliction, which, when sanctified, has a healing and purging power. After conversion we need bruising so that reeds may know themselves to be reeds, and not oaks. Even reeds need bruising, by reason of the remainder of pride in our nature, and to let us see that we live by mercy." (p.5)

But ultimately, the bruising is so that,

"There must be a conformity to our head, Christ, who 'was bruised for us' (Isa. 53:5) that we may know how much we are bound unto him." (p.5)

What hope is found in the first chapter of Sibbes book, The Bruised Reed! It reminds me that no matter how badly bruised I might be or how little my spark may seem, if I am willing to humble myself, the Lord will not break the reed ( me ) nor quench the smoking flax ( my faith ).

"O God, Let thy Spirit teach me the vital lessons of Christ, for I am slow to learn; And hear thou my broken cries."
The Valley of Vision p.65

If you would like to read more of Sibbes book you can purchase The Bruised Reed here or read it online here. For more information and discussion on Richard Sibbes or his book visit Provocations and Pantings.