The Puritan Reading Challenge

By Jennifer Partin

In The Bruised Reed chapter 2, titled Christ Will Not Break the Bruised Reed, Sibbes further illustrates Christ's handling and dealing with the bruised reed.

Feeling discouraged and weak? Are you at the end of your rope? Take heart because this chapter gives great comfort and hope! Listen to the way Christ is described,

"As a prophet, he came with a blessing in his mouth, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' ( Matt. 5:3 ), and invited those to come to him whose hearts suggested most exceptions against themselves, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden' ( Matt. 11:28 ). How did his heart yearn when he saw the people 'as sheep having no shepherd' ( Matt. 9:36 )! He never turned any back again that came to him, though some went away of themselves. He came to die as a priest for his enemies. In the days of his flesh he dictated a form of prayer unto his disciples, and put petitions unto God into their mouths, and his Spirit to intercede in their hearts. He shed tears for those that shed his blood, and now he makes intercession in heaven for weak Christians, standing between them and God's anger. He is a meek king; he will admit mourners into his presence, a king of poor and afflicted persons. As he has beams of majesty, so he has a heart of mercy and compassion. He is the prince of peace ( Isa. 9:6 )." p.8

"The lion of the tribe of Judah will only tear in pieces those that 'will not have him rule over them' ( Luke 19:14 ) He will not show his strength against those who prostrate themselves before him." p.9

Aren't these words about Christ comforting? This should encourage us when we are being bruised. Christ's way is first to wound, then to heal. Look at the illustration Sibbes uses.

"Physicians, though they put their patients to much pain, will not destroy nature, but raise it up by degrees. Surgeons will lance and cut, but not dismember. A mother who has a sick and self-willed child will not therefore cast it away. And shall there be more mercy in the stream than in the spring? Shall we think there is more mercy in ourselves than in God, who plants the affection of mercy in us?" p.7

Sibbes shows us the gentleness of Christ. It is important for us to see and understand this so that we can apply it to our lives.

"If Christ be so merciful as not to break me, I will not break myself by despair, nor yield myself over to the roaring lion, Satan, to break me in pieces.

See the contrary disposition of Christ on the one hand and Satan and his instruments on the other. Satan sets upon us when we are weakest, as Simon and Levi upon the Shechemites, 'when they were sore' ( Gen. 34:25 ) but Christ will make up in us all the breaches which sin and Satan have made. He 'binds up the broken-hearted' ( Isa. 61:1 ). As a mother is tenderest to the most diseased and weakest child, so does Christ most mercifully incline to the weakest. Likewise he puts an instinct into the weakest things to rely upon something stronger than themselves for support. The vine stays itself upon the elm, and the weakest creatures often have the strongest shelters." p.10

Again, Sibbes reminds us of the importance of humility.

"When he humbles us, let us humble ourselves, and not stand out against him, for then he will redouble his strokes." p.11

"Conviction will breed contrition, and this leads to humiliation. Therefore desire God that he would bring a clear and a strong light into all the corners of our souls, and accompany it with a spirit of power to lay our hearts low." p.12

When we come face to face with our sins, we should cry out our need for a Saviour.

"A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope. Christ's sheep are weak sheep, and lacking in something or other; he therefore applies himself to the necessities of every sheep. He seeks that which was lost, and brings again that which was driven out of the way, and binds up that which was broken, and strengthens the weak ( Ezek. 34:16 ) his tenderest care is over the weakest. The lambs he carries in his bosom ( Isa. 40:11 ) p.15

May we in humility come to him, acknowledging our need for him.

Blessed Lord Jesus,
Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,
the air supply breath,
the earth bear my tread,
its fruits nourish me,
its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet thy compassions yearn over me,
thy heart hastens to my rescue,
thy love endured my curse,
thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths
of humiliation,
bathed in thy blood,
tender of conscience,
triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.
-----The Valley of Vision

It's not too late to read along with me. The Bruised Reed can be read online, click here.