Works (Vol 4) - Sibbes - XVIII - 'Excellency of the gospel above the law' concluded

Required reading
The Works Volume 4 by Richard Sibbes (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'The excellency of the gospel above the law'.

My summary
Today we finish Sibbes' exposition of 2 Corinthians 3:17-18: 'Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.'

This week Sibbes concentrates on the words, 'even as by the Spirit of the Lord'.

Firstly we learn that 'as' means that the change from glory to glory is by the Spirit of the Lord - the Spirit changes us by illumination.

Then Sibbes gives us a couple of related doctrines:
(i) the Spirit comes from Christ;
(ii) whatsoever is good in us comes from the Spirit of God.

Then by way of application, Sibbes gives us three uses.  We are told to:
(i) shut out of our hearts too much relying upon any outward thing;
(ii) find comfort in this doctrine when we find no goodness at all, nor no strength at all in our natures;
(iii) trial ourselves whether we have the Spirit of Christ or no.

What grabbed me
The first 'use' was a helpful reminder: 'And therefore put out of your thoughts, I beseech you, when you look to have any grace or comfort wrought, shut out of your hearts too much relying upon any outward thing. Think not that education can make a man good, or plodding can make a man good : in bodily exercise, in hearing much, in conferring much, in custom or education, or any pains of our own. These are things that the Spirit will be effectual in, if we use them as we should ; but without the Spirit what are they ? Nay, what is the body of Christ without the Spirit ? ' The flesh profiteth nothing,' John vi. 63. What is the sacrament and the word ? Dead things without the Spirit of the Lord. Nothing can work upon the soul, no outward thing in the world, but the Spirit of God ; and the Spirit of God works upon the soul by the means of grace, by gracious habits and qualities wrought. For he doth not work upon the soul immediately. Before he alter and change the soul, the Spirit works upon the soul by altering, and changing of it ; and when it hath altered the soul, then it joins with the soul, and alters and changeth it according to the image of Christ, more and more still. '

Although a good education is often used by God to change us, without the Spirit it is worthless. 

He is the one we must rely on.

Next week's reading
Commence 'The church's riches' by reading the addresses, and up to the paragraph beginning 'Doct. 3. For your sakes.'

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