The Lives of Twenty-Two Eminent English Divines, Biography 14
The Life of Doctor Sibs, who died Anno Christi 1635.
His Country.RIchard Sibs was born upon the edges of Suffolk, near Sudbury, and being trained up at School, when he was grown ripe and ready for the University, he was sent to Cambridge Anno Christi 1595. and was admitted into St. Johns Colledge,His going to Cambridge. where he by his sedulity and industry so profited in Learning, and approved himself by his godly and blamelesse conversation, that he was promoted from one degree to another in the Colledge; being chosen, first Scholar, and then Fellow of that House.His promotion in the Colledge and University. His conversion. He also took all the Degrees of the University, with general approbation and applause. It pleased God to convert him by the Ministry of Mr. Paul Baines, whilest he was Lecturer at St. Andrews in Cambridge. And when Mr. Sibs had been Master of Arts some while, he entred into the Ministry, and shortly after was chosen Lecturer himself at Trinity Church in Cambridge: He is chosen Lecturer in Cambridge.To whose Ministry, besides the Townsmen, many Scholars resorted, so that he became a worthy Instrument of begetting many Sons and Daughters unto God, besides the edifying and building up of of others. He sometimes had a little stammering in the time of his preaching, but then his judicious hearers alwaies expected some rare and excellent notion from him.
About the year 1625. or 26. he was chosen Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, Master of Katherine Hall.the Government whereof he continued till his dying day; and indeed like a faithfull Governour, he was alwaies very solicitous and carefull to procure and advance the good of that little House. For he procured good means and maintenance by his interest in many worthy Persons, for the enlargement of the Colledge, and was a means and Instrument, to establish learned and Religious Fellows there; insomuch as in his time, it proved a very famous Society for Piety and Learning, both in Fellows and Scholars.
But before this, viz. about the year 1618. he was chosen Preacher to Graies-Inne, Preacher at Graies-Inne.one of the Learnedest Societies in England, where his Ministry found such generall approbation and acceptance, that besides the Learned Lawyers of the House, many Noble Personages, and many of the Gentry and Citizens resorted to hear him, and
Dr. SIBBS
many till this day,The success of his Ministry. blesse God for the Benefit which they received by him.
His Learning was mixed with much humility, whereby he alwaies esteemed lowly of himself, and was ready to undervalue his own labours, though others judged them to breathe spirit and life, to be strong of Heaven, speaking with authority and power to mens consciences.His prudence in the Ministry. His care in the course of his Ministry was to lay a good foundation in the heads and hearts of his hearers. And though he were a wise Master-builder, and that in one of the eminentest Auditories for Learning and Piety that was in the Land, as was said before; yet according to the grace which was given to him (which was indeed like that of Elisha, in regard of the other Prophets, 2 King. 1.9. the elder Brothers priviledge, a double portion) he was still taking all occasions to preach of the Fundamentals to them, and amongst the rest, of the Incarnation of the Son of God, one of the chief Fundamentals of our Faith, one of the chief of those wonders in the Mercy-seat, which the Cherubims gaze at, which the Angels desire to pry into, 1 Pet. 1.12. And preaching at severall times, and by occasion, of so many severall texts of Scripture concerning this Subject, there is scarce any one of those incomparable benefits which accrew to us thereby, nor any of those holy impressions, which the meditation hereof ought to work in our hearts, which was not by him sweetly unfolded, as may appear by those Sermons now in Print. And therefore (saith a Reverend Divine) the noted humility of the Author I lesse wonder at, finding how often his thoughts dwelt upon the humiliation of Christ.
As for his Sermons upon Cant. 5. Reverend and holy Mr. Dod upon the perusall of the Manuscript, was so taken with them,Mr Dods testimony of his Sermons on Cant. 5. that he professed that he found them so full of heavenly Treasure, and containing such lively expressions of the unvaluable riches of the love of Christ towards all his poor servants that sue and seek unto him for it, that by his great importunity he prevailed with Dr. Sibs, otherwise much undervaluing his own meditations, to commit the same to the Presse; to which Mr. Dod gave this attestation.
I (saith he) judge it altogether unmeet, that such precious matter should be concealed from the publick use. I judge these Sermons a very profitable and excellent help, both to the understanding of that dark and most Divine Scripture, as also to kindle in the heart, all heavenly affections towards Jesus Christ; the whole frame whereof, is carried with such Wisdom, Gravity, Piety, Judgment and Experience, that it commends it self to all that are godly wise: and I doubt not but they shall find their temptations answered, their fainting spirits revived, their understandings enlightened, and their graces confirmed; so that they shall have cause to praise God, for the worthy Authors godly and painfull labours.
Indeed he was throughly studied in the holy Scriptures, which made him a man of God, perfect, throughly furnished unto every good work; and as became a faithfull Steward of the manifold graces of God, he endeavoured to teach to others the whole counsel of God, and to store them with the knowledge of Gods will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
His piety.He was a man that enjoyed much communion with God, walking in all the Laws of God blamelesse; and like John the Baptist, was a burning and shining light, wasting and spending himself to enlighten others.His charity. He was upon all occasions very charitable, drawing forth, not only his Purse in relieving, but his very bowels in commiserating the wants and necessities of the poor Members of Christ. He used sometimes in the summer-time, to go abroad to the houses of some worthy Personages, where he was an Instrument of much good, not only by his private labours, but by his prudent counsell and advice, that upon every occasion he was ready to minister unto them. And thus having done his work on earth,His death. he went to receive his wages in heaven, peaceably and comfortably resigning up his spirit unto God, Anno Christi 1631. and of his age 58.