Works (Vol 1) - Sibbes - XIII - Soul's conflict continued

Required reading
The Works Volume 1 by Richard Sibbes (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue 'The soul's conflict with itself' by reading Chapters 18 (Other grounds of trusting in God...), 19 (Faith to be prized...), 20 (Of the method...) and 21 (Of quieting the spirit...).

My summary
We continue Sibbes' exposition of 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'.

In Chapter 18 we are given twelve directions for trusting in God.  We must:
(i) trust by light and strength from God;
(ii) subdue the rebellion and malice of our will;
(iii) carry the whole soul to God;
(iv) put cases to ourselves of things that probably may fall out;
(v) labour to fit the promise to every condition thou art in;
(vi) trust in God only;
(vii) labour that thy soul may answer all the relations wherein it stands to God;
(viii) yield comfort from God himself;
(ix) trust not by sight;
(x) often call to mind the former experiences of God's goodness;
(xi) trust God as he will be trusted;
(xii) maintain in our souls a high esteem of the grace of faith.

Then Sibbes teaches us in Chapter 19 that we may only trust in other things (e.g. riches, friends) as they are subordinate to God.

Next Chapter 20 shows us that true trust is:
(i) willing to be tried and searched;
(ii) reliant upon God for every good thing;
(iii) bold in going to God;
(iv) humble;
(v) a dependent grace;
(vi) obsequious;
(vii) careful of all means;
(viii) able to wait;
(ix) quiet.

Then in Chapter 21 Sibbes answers objections that some people's sin is too great for their spirit to be quiet.

What grabbed me
Sibbes made a good point that we are to trust in God alone: 'Yea, we must not trust itself, but God whom it relies on, who is therefore called our trust. All the glorious things that are spoken of trust are only made good by God in Christ, who, as trusted, doth all for us. God hath prescribed trust as the way to carry our souls to himself, in whom we should only rely, and not in our imperfect trust, which hath its ebbing and flowing. Neither will trust in God himself for the present suffice us for future strength and grace, as if trusting in God to-day would suffice to strengthen us for to-morrow ; but we must renew our trust for fresh supply upon every fresh occasion. So that we see God alone must , be the object of our trust.'

Resist the temptation to trust in the things of the world.  Trust only in God.

Next week's reading
Continue Sibbes Works Vol 1 by continuing 'The soul's conflict with itself' and reading Chapters 22 (Of sorrow for sin...), 23 (Other spiritual causes of the soul's trouble discovered and removed), 24 (Of outward troubles...), 25 (Of the defects of gifts...), 26 (Of divine reasons) and 27 (In our worst condition...).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.