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

Required reading
The Works Volume 1 by Richard Sibbes (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Sibbes Works Vol 1 by continuing 'The soul's conflict with itself' and reading Chapters 28 (Divers qualities...), 29 (Of God's manifold...), 30 (Of God...) and 31 (Means of proving...).

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'.

And continuing on from Chapter 27 last week, Chapter 28 teaches us further about the praise of God, including its diverse qualities:
(i) self-denial;
(ii) firm resolution;
(iii) rising by degrees;
(iv) sweetness;
(v) wisdom;
(vi) not delaying.

Chapter 29 teaches us how comes God to be the salvation of our countenance.

Then Chapter 30 looks at the last two words of the verse: 'my God'.  In the words is implied:
(i) a propriety and interest in God;
(ii) an improvement of the same for the quieting of the soul.

And in Chapter 31 we see means of proving and evidencing to our souls that God is our God.   This includes:
(i) a taking him at his offer;
(ii) a planting all our happiness in him;
(iii) a universal and unlimited obedience;
(iv) the Spirit revealing the mutual interest betwixt God and his people;
(v) the Spirit witnessing to us that we are adopted;
(vi) the evidence of the special love tokens that he bestows upon us;
(vii) a siding with God.

What grabbed me
I loved this comment about what the praise of God requires: 'It requires especially self-denial, from a conscience of our own wants, weaknesses, and unworthiness ; it requires a giving up of ourselves, and all ours to be at God's dispose. The very ground and the fruit which it yields are both God's ; and they never gave themselves truly up to God, that are not ready to give all they have to him whensoever he calls for it. Thankfulness is a sacrifice, and in sacrifices there must be killing before offering, otherwise the sacrifice will be as the offering up some unclean creature. Thanksgiving is an incense, and there must be fire to burn that incense. Thanksgiving requires not only affections, but the heat of affections. There must be some assurance of the benefit we praise God for ; and it is no easy matter to maintain assurance of our interest in the best things.'

True praise of God requires self-denial.  But sadly our praise of him usually falls far short of this requirement.  Our selfish attitudes are all too readily intermingled with it.

Next week's reading
Continue Sibbes Works Vol 1 by continuing 'The soul's conflict with itself' and reading Chapters 32 (Of improving...), 33 (Of experience...) and 34 (Of confirming...).

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