Biography
Richard Sibbes was born in 1577, in Tostock, Suffolk, England, the son of a wheelwright. His father was a man of limited means who made carts and wheels, and the family was devout. He was a studious boy, with an eager mind, and his father, who respected learning, allowed him to attend school. He won a place at St. John's College, Cambridge, as a sizar, a poor student who earned his keep by serving others. He took his degree in 1599 and became a fellow of the college. He was a gifted student who loved the Scriptures. During his time at Cambridge, he heard the preaching of Paul Baynes, a well-known Puritan, and was converted. The change was lasting.
He was ordained in 1608 and was soon known as a preacher. In 1610, he was appointed as the lecturer at Holy Trinity Church, in Cambridge, where he drew large audiences, including many students. His sermons were marked by a tenderness and a depth of insight. He was a pastor who did much for the spiritual life of the young men of the university. Among those who heard him was John Cotton, who later went to New England. He was a man with a quiet voice and a gentle manner, who spoke with great sincerity.
In 1617, he was appointed as the preacher at Gray's Inn, in London, one of the Inns of Court, where lawyers trained. He held the post for the rest of his life. He preached to the lawyers and the students and served as a spiritual guide to the elite of London. His sermons were attended by many of the leading figures of the city. He was also a friend of a number of the Puritan gentry. In 1626, he became the master of St. Catharine's Hall, in Cambridge, where he did a great deal to build up the college. He raised funds and attracted students. He took care of its welfare.
He was a moderate Puritan. He remained within the Church of England, and he was cautious in dealing with the controversies of his day. He believed that the church should be reformed from within, and he did not take part in the radical movements. He was willing to conform to the ceremonies of the church, even though he did not like them. This earned him the criticism of more radical Puritans, who regarded him as too compliant. He was also under suspicion by Archbishop William Laud, who was an opponent of Puritanism, and he was dismissed from his lecture at Holy Trinity in 1615 for a time. Yet he was a man who had a talent for peace and who was respected by many.
He is best known for his writings, which are marked by a warm and pastoral tone. His best-known work is The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax, published in 1630, which is a study of the gentleness of Christ. It is based on a passage in Isaiah, where the servant of the Lord is said not to break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. It was a book of consolation for those who were weak in faith and suffering from a sense of sin. It had a deep effect on a number of readers, including Richard Baxter, who said that it had done him good. He also wrote The Soul's Conflict, A Fountain Sealed and Glorious Freedom. His sermons were published after his death.
He was known as the Heavenly Doctor Sibbes, for the sweetness of his teaching. His emphasis was on the love of God and the grace of Christ. He showed that the believer may take heart, since the Lord does not despise weakness. He taught that God has a tender heart toward His own. He was a man who suffered from his own sense of weakness. He did not marry. He lived a quiet life of study, prayer and service.
He died on July 5, 1635, in London, at the age of fifty-eight. He left a legacy of writings that have been read for nearly four hundred years. Izaak Walton, the author of The Compleat Angler, wrote a poem about him. His life shows the effect of a gentle shepherd in a harsh time. He is a model of the pastoral care of souls.