Customer Reviews

RICHARD SIBBES

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The "Sweet Dropper," as the heavenly Doctor Sibbes has been called, will live up to his name in this finely written and meticulously researched book. Mark Dever himself may well deserve such a moniker, being one of the few scholars (this is his PhD. dissertation from Cambridge) who can speak as eloquently as he writes. Anyone who has had to crawl through the desert of arid scholastic tomes, or swim the oceans of pedantic language, will find Dever's work a delightful exception.

The book is divided into two parts.

Part one is biographical material. While the writing itself is lively enough, sadly, the subject matter is not. Alas Sibbes was no Bunyan. But Dever does the historical reader a favor by revealing a couple of overlooked facts, correcting repeated mistakes of former historians. Sibbes was neither the disenfranchised preacher of lore, who lived out the remainder of his life in obscurity, nor was he a rebel-rousing nonconformist, but rather a moderate Puritan, more the reformer rather than a revolutionary.

Part two explores the theology of Sibbes, appropriately distinguishing him as one of the last of the great English reformers. The author highlights several salient features of Sibbes as a Reformed theologian. Of special interest, Dever adroitly dispels the misconception that Sibbes was an irrational or even an a-rational mystic. The "Sweet Dropper" was nothing of the kind but rather an affectionate theologian, scrupulously concerned with the centrality of the heart and the proper role of the conscience, specifically an educated one.

This reader came away with three specific encouragements:
1. Sibbes believed that godly preaching was the salvation of the Church of England. So should it is for any church in any generation.
2. Sibbes was a reforming conformist. He was a hesitator and a questioner but not a dissenter. Rather than separate from the established church, he elected to remain, attempting to bring reform from within. For those pastors and church leaders who labor in non-Reformed churches or denominations, his example will be of encouragement. Although history may show that his endeavor was actually an idle venture, such warm-hearted commitment will loom as a grand and noble gesture in the light of today's rabid transience and hyper-individualism.
3. Many voices today are clamoring for a new Reformation. As great as the need may be, much is cool, calculating, and highly polemical. Sibbes was a doctor of the heart. His tender, warm-heartedness needs to be rediscovered. Sibbes was the England of his day, what Jonathan Edwards was to America, both sharing a mutual concern for true religious affections.

A fresh look at the life of Richard Sibbes may well rekindle a warm-hearted passion for the gospel, based upon the great doctrines of the Protestant Reformation. This truth on fire was the hallmark of English Puritanism. Mark Dever has done a great service in reminding his readers of this fact.

Pastor Mark Dever, author of "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church," originally penned "Richard Sibbes" as his doctoral dissertation, then revised it for this book-length edition.

In the first half of his work, Dever summarizes the life and influences of Richard Sibbes. It is in the second half of the book that Dever excels. His explication of Sibbes affectionate theology demonstrates thorough research and accurate understanding. The only exception to this is Dever's summary in a footnote that for Sibbes "imagination" is similar to what we would call "emotions" today. Actually, in Puritans such as Sibbes and Edwards, the imagination was a rational faculty of the soul, deeper and more primary than the emotions. This interpretation not withstanding, Dever's work is an excellent secondary source for understanding the life, ministry, and theology of an oft-neglected English Puritan.

Reviewer: Dr. Robert W. Kellemen is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming, "Sacred Companions: A History of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

This book was Mark Dever's dissertation from Cambridge. It is not a leisurely read. It is an academic book.

The book adds much to the historiography of Richard Sibbes. While Sibbes is often seen as a radical non-conforming Puritan who stayed in the Church of England against his conscience, Dever disagrees. He sees Sibbes as a conforming Puritan. He was in the Church of England by choice. Sibbes was able to both be Calvinistic and in the Church of England because, during his younger years, there was a middle ground. This middle ground between the Laudian Church of England and the Puritans was quickly disappearing, but Sibbes taught his conscience to yield to authorities while not agreeing.

This book is well written and worth reading. It, however, is not for the casual reader. If you like Dever's preaching and want a book to edify your soul, look elsewhere. If you are interested in church history and want to see how this Puritan giant can speak to your soul, buy this book.

A great look into the life of Sibbes. His 7 volume works are a treasure chest of devotion and spiritual encouragement. This book does a great job in painting a picture of Sibbes beyond his works. I would highly recommend getting the 7 vol. works as well but certainly get the cheeper cd-rom version from richardsibbes.com.