THE following letter by Richard Sibbes, the Puritan divine, was sent to that eminent and pious soldier, Sir Horatio Vere, when in command of the English Forces in the Netherlands, as an epistle dedicatory of the “Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax,” a well-known treatise of Sibbes:—
To SIR HORATIO VERE, Knight,
General of the English Forces of the
United Provinces in the Netherlands,
and to his pious consort, Lady Mary Vere.
RIGHT HONOURABLE,—Soldiers that carry their lives in their hands had need, above all others, to carry grace in their hearts, that so, having made peace with God, they may be fit to encounter with men; and having, by faith in Christ, disarmed death before they die, they may sacrifice their life with the more courage and comfort, which to neglect—being a matter of eternity—is not valour but desperate madness, because in this business, as in oversight of war, there is no place for a second repentance, the first error being unrecoverable. In evils above the strength of man to prevail against and his patience to endure, there God hath planted the affection of fear, which might stir up to avoid the danger by flying to Him in Christ, who being our friend it is no matter who is our enemy. We may be killed but cannot be hurt; so safe it is to be under His command that hath command over death, hell, judgment, and all that we most fear. Yet such is our nature that, by familiarity with danger, we grow by degrees insensibly to be hardened against it, and to look no further than death, as if to die were only to give up the ghost, and then an end of all. And hereupon it is that they that follow the wars are generally taken to be men not most religious. The more respect those of that profession deserve that have learned upon what terms to live and die, that are sure of a better life before they leave this, that have laid up their life in Christ; amongst whom, Right Honourable, the world hath a long time taken notice of you, in whom both religion and military employment, meekness of spirit with height of courage, humility with honour, by a rare and happy combination, have met together. Whereby you have much vindicated your profession from common imputation, and showed that piety can enter into tents and follow after camps, and that God hath His Joshuas and His Cornelius in all ages. But I will not use many words of yourself to yourself, because though you have done much that may and will be spoken, yet you love not to hear or speak of what you have done.
It may seem to some unbecoming to offer a discourse of a “bruised reed” to such a strong and flourishing cedar. But experience showeth that the strongest plants in God’s house are exposed sometimes to strong winds of temptation, and thereupon meet with bruising, that they may the better know by whose strength they stand, and that the greatest may learn to go out of themselves to the same common rock and fountain of strength with the meanest. David was a valiant man; yet upon experience of his oft failings and recoveries he became towards God as a weaned child. Lowliness of mind to God-ward and greatness of spirit against His enemies may well stand together; for the way to be above all other things is to submit to God first. Besides, this text speaketh of the prevailing government of Christ in His Church and in His children, which may be an encouragement to your Lordship still not only to own the cause of Christ in these times—wherein men are ashamed of what they should glory in, and glory in their shame—but likewise to fight the Lord’s battles when called to it, and help Him against the mighty, for victory attendeth Christ’s side in the end. Though God, to revenge the quarrel of His covenant, suffer His enemies to prevail yet for a time, to harden them the more, yet they have undertaken a condemned cause; and howsoever the Church hath justly provoked God, yet the cause shall stand impregnable against all created power of devils and men. We naturally desire victory, and many desire it more than truth or goodness, which only are victorious; and so out of a depraved judgment they cross their own desires, seeking to overcome in that wherein it were safer for them to be overcome. These are sure to meet with shame in the conclusion instead of victory; or else we must deny Christ to be King of His Church and Judge of the world. Proceed on still, Honourable Lord, to stand for Christ, both in peace and war, and this shall be found to your honour when Christ shall come “to be glorious in his saints” (2 Thess. i. 10), that He thought you worthy to honour Himself by, when others that oppose or betray the cause of Christ for base ends, shall not dare to hold up their heads.
I would not divide you from your Honourable Lady, being obliged to both, and both being one, as in other bands, so in that above nature, in love to the best things; both exemplary in all religious courses; both in your places likewise, having been employed in great services for the common good, so that not only this but foreign States are bound to bless God for you both. Going on in these ways you will find God making His promise good of honouring them that honour Him.
I do not so far overvalue this poor work as to think it worthy of your Honours, but thus I thought meet to witness my deserved respect to you both. If I be to blame for suffering these sermons—long since preached—thus to come forth, others must divide the fault with me who had brought it to that pass that it was almost necessary for me to take this course. The Lord continue to bless your Honours, with all your branches, and to maintain His grace in you “until he hath brought forth judgment unto victory” (Matt. xii. 20).
Your Honour’s to command in the Lord,
(Signed) RICHARD SIBBES.