The Love of Christ EXPOSITORY SERMONS ON VERSES FROM SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTERS 4-6
The Puritan John Dod wrote that this book is ‘so full of heavenly treasure, and such lively expressions of the invaluable riches of the love of Christ’ that it kindles ‘in the heart all heavenly affections unto Jesus Christ’. Indeed it does! And that was very much what Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) was about in all his ministry. The Love of Christ is a series of sermons preached on Song of Solomon 4:16-6:3. For Sibbes, this Bible book ‘is nothing else but a plain demonstration and setting forth of the love of Christ to his church, and of the love of the church to Christ’. The Song of Solomon does not simply mouth a doctrine: its sensuous imagery sings its message. It is as if this love story is played on violins. The reader is thus brought, not simply to understand, but to taste and share the delights of the lovers. This is precisely what Christ’s people need, as Sibbes knew: it is not enough to be aware of Christ’s love; we must sense, grasp and enjoy it. Only then will we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts. That is one reason why so many avoid books like this one: they want information, and they want it fast. But Sibbes intends to affect you, to hold your eyes on Jesus that you might develop a stronger appetite for him. Such work cannot be fast work, but it is profoundly transforming.
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781800403086
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Richard Sibbes was born at Tostock, Suffolk, in 1577 and went to school in Bury St Edmunds. His father, ‘a good sound-hearted Christian’, at first intended that Richard should follow his own trade as a wheelwright, but the boy’s ‘strong inclination to his
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Unless the preacher was insensitive to the abilities of his congregation, his printed sermons tell us much about his hearers. And as Sibbes was anything but insensitive, his sermons stand as a lasting testimony to his hearers. The spiritual appetites and abilities of the congregations Richard Sibbes preached to must have been colossal. His sermons are long and packed as solidly with spiritual insight, warmth and wisdom as a tin of sardines is packed with fish. I choose to read a little at a time – clearly lacking the healthier capacity of his original hearers. Reading with such delight and profit this deeply satisfying and encouraging book – and Sibbes is a great encourager – I took advantage of the recent heavily discounted price to acquire the set of Sibbes’s works. (I would like to thank ‘Banner’ for these recent Christmas offers – they have been ‘a means of grace’ to me!) I do however have one complaint – the cover picture on this paperback edition: I cannot imagine what that Western decadent wedding foppery has to do with the Song of Songs! RC Ross