(This is the fourth post in a series of reflections that consider Richard Sibbes’ work, The Bruised Reed. I am participating in an online book club called “Reading Classics Together” hosted by Tim Challies. Here are my previous posts in this collection: Part I | Part II | Part III.)

This week’s reading came from chapters six and seven.  Both chapters focus upon the image of a smoking flax, a picture Sibbes employs to describe that believer who is discouraged in their faith. Their faith represents the fire which is small.  Their smoking represents the present despair of their souls. His constant reminder is very simple—where there is smoke there is fire.

Sibbes begins by listing a few qualifications for one who struggles with discouragement in their relationship with God.  At the heart of what he says is the advice to step outside of yourself and try to observe your current estate objectively.  He writes:

“We must have two eyes, one to see imperfections in ourselves…the other to see what is good …. We must not judge ourselves always according to present feeling.”

This is most excellent counsel especially for those who are very quick to judge themselves.  Sibbes analogizes this practice to one who has been “hired by Satan, the ‘accuser of the brethren’ (Rev. 12:10), to plead for him in accusing themselves.”  Sibbes hits close to home when he words things like that.  Graphic picture.  Duly noted.

He points out that such despair is owing to a lapse, however temporary, in one’s theology.  To despair incessantly of our own shortcomings is to forget grace.  Sibbes remedies this in a most beautiful fashion:

“God knows we have nothing of ourselves, therefore in the covenant of grace he requires no more than he gives, but gives what he requires, and accepts what he gives.”

Sibbes expends the remainder of chapter six spelling out the ‘marks of the smoking flax’—that is, what to look for in order to determine whether one has truly been set on fire by God (i.e. converted).

10 Marks of the Smoking Flax:

1. Light—spiritual understanding
2. Heat—spiritual desire
3. Direction—spiritual guidance
4. Purity—spiritual discernment
5. Delight—spiritual pleasure
6. Activity—spiritual works
7. Sensitivity—spiritual pliability
8. Infectious—spiritual contagiousness
9. Heavenly—spiritual aim
10. Growth—spiritual appetite

In chapter seven Sibbes reverts to restating his purpose in writing—”[that] much comfort may be brought to the souls of the weakest.”  He then spells out a case for human depravity, reminding his readers that even when Satan isn’t tempting us our own natural selves will chime in with awful thoughts and temptations.

He closes chapter seven by reminding us that,

“It should encourage us to duty that Christ will not quench the smoking flax, but blow on it till it flames…. Let us not be cruel to ourselves when Christ is thus gracious”

Sibbes is such an encouragement to read.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to read, write, and interact with his work as well as with others who are reading along.

A special note of thanks to my new friends—Audrey, Lisa, Kevin, and Becky—who are reading this book along with me and who have taken the time to stop by the blog and say a few words.  Make sure to click through to their sites and read what they have to say about this week’s reading.

If there’s anyone else reading Sibbes’ work as a part of Tim Challies Reading Classics Together and you’ve somehow found you way here to my site, drop me a comment below and let the rest of us know you’re out there.  Thanks.