The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax

Richard Sibbes — read again from the page images of the 1878 Nisbet edition (archive.org), a 600 dpi scan in modern spelling. The introductory essay by Alexander Beith that the edition prints in front of the treatise is not included.

Sibbes preaches Matthew 12:20 — a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory — in twenty-eight short chapters, and the whole of it is one argument: that Christ deals gently with weak and failing faith, and that the same Christ who will not break the reed will carry his own government through to victory. It was the book that turned Richard Baxter, and through Baxter a great deal of what follows it in this section.

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Contents (28)

1. The Text Opened and Divided: What the Reed Is, and What the Bruising
2. Those That Christ Hath to Do Withal Are Bruised
3. Christ Will Not Break the Bruised Reed
4. Signs of One Truly Bruised, and Comfort to Such
5. Grace Is Little at First
6. Grace Is Mingled with Corruption
7. Christ Will Not Quench Small and Weak Beginnings
8. Tenderness Required in Ministers toward Young Beginners
9. Governors Should Be Tender of Weak Ones, and Also Private Christians
10. Rules to Try Whether We Be Such as Christ Will Not Quench
11. Signs of Smoking Flax Which Christ Will Not Quench
12. Scruples Hindering Comfort Removed
13. Set upon Duties Notwithstanding Weaknesses
14. The Case of Indisposition Resolved, and Discouragements Removed
15. Of Infirmities: No Cause of Discouragement, and How to Recover Peace
16. Satan Not to Be Believed, as He Representeth Christ unto Us
17. Reproof of Such as Sin against This Merciful Disposition in Christ
18. Of Christ’s Judgment in Us, and His Victory: What It Is
19. Christ Is So Mild That Yet He Will Govern Those That Enjoy His Mildness
20. The Spiritual Government of Christ Is Joined with Judgment and Wisdom
21. Where True Wisdom and Judgment Is, There Christ Sets Up His Government
22. Christ’s Government Is Victorious
23. Means to Make Grace Victorious
24. All Should Side with Christ
25. Christ’s Government Shall Be Openly Victorious
26. Christ Alone Advanceth This Government
27. Victory Not to Be Had without Fighting
28. Be Encouraged to Go On Cheerfully