Works (Vol 1) - Sibbes - III - Bruised reed commenced

Required reading
The Works Volume 1 by Richard Sibbes (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence 'The bruised reed and smoking flax' by reading 'Epistle dedicatory', 'To the general reader' and Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4.

My summary
Now we start one of Sibbes' most famous titles, 'The bruised reed and smoking flax'.

Firstly we read the dedication to the Knights, soldiers and other Christian readers.

Then in Chapter 1 Sibbes introduces his text from Matthew 12:20: 'A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.'  We are given a quick overview of what the text indicates:
(i) the condition of those that Christ deals with;
(ii) Christ's actions toward them;
(iii) the constancy and progress of his care.

Then in Chapter 2 Sibbes begins to unpack what it means that those Christ deals with are bruised.

In Chapter 3 we see that Christ will not break the bruised reed.

And Chapter 4 gives us the signs of one truly bruised.

What grabbed me
I found helpful the description Sibbes gave of the church: '...the condition of men whom he was to deal withal is, that they were bruised reeds, and smoking flax ; not trees, but reeds ; and not whole, but bruised reeds. The church is compared to weak things ; to a dove amongst the fowls ; to a vine amongst the plants ; to sheep amongst the beasts ; to a woman, which is the weaker vessel : and here God's children are compared to bruised reeds and smoking flax...They are bruised reeds before their conversion, and oftentimes after: before conversion all (except such as being bred up in the church, God hath delighted to shew himself gracious unto from their childhood), yet in different degrees, as God seeth meet; and as difference is in regard of temper, parts, manner of life, &c., so in God's intendment of employment for the time to come; for usually he empties such of themselves, and makes them nothing, before he will use them in any great services.'

God loves the weak!

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12.

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