29
" It cannot but cheer the heart of the spouse, to consider, in all her infirmities and miseries she is subject to, that she hath a husband of a kind disposition, that knows how to give the honour of mild usage to the weaker vessel, that will be so far from rejecting her, because she is weak, that he will pity her the more. And as he is kind at all times, so especially when it is most seasonable; he will speak to her heart, ‘especially in the wilderness,’ Hos. ii. 24. "
― Richard Sibbes , The Bruised Reed
33
" When blindness and boldness, ignorance and arrogance, weakness and willfulness, meet together in men, it renders them odious to God, burdensome in society, dangerous in their counsels, disturbers of better purposes, intractable and incapable of better direction, miserable in the issue. Where Christ shows his gracious power in weakness, he does it by letting men understand themselves so far as to breed humility, and magnify God's love to such as they are. "
― Richard Sibbes , The Bruised Reed
38
" What a comfort this is in our conflicts with our unruly hearts, that it shall not always be thus! Let us strive a little while, and we shall be happy for ever. Let us think when we are troubled with our sins that Christ has this in charge from his Father, that he shall not "quench the smoking flax" until he has subdued all. This puts a shield into our hands to beat back "all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Eph. 6:16). Satan will object, "You are a great sinner." We may answer, "Christ is a strong Saviour." But he will object, "You have no faith, no love". "Yes, a spark of faith and love." "But Christ will not regard that." "Yes, he will not quench the smoking flax." "But this is so little and weak that it will vanish and come to nought." "Nay, but Christ will cherish it, until he has brought judgment to victory. "
― Richard Sibbes , The Bruised Reed