The Bruised Reed (Richard Sibbes)

First published in 1630, The Bruised Reed is by Puritan Richard Sibbes and discusses the passage in Matthew 12 that hearkens back to Isaiah 42, looking how Jesus treats certain types of people:

a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

What do these words mean? A bruised reed is one who "is sensible of sin and misery . . . and, seeing no help in himself . . [turns] to Christ." Similarly, a smoldering wick [or smoking flax] is he who sees a spark of Christ's work in him, yet also much smoke [sin] that remains. In both cases, these are those who understand they bring nothing to God; that our hearts are wicked, even our righteous deeds are filthy, and thus can only cry 'be merciful to me a sinner.' 

And how does Christ respond? He will not break those who are broken; neither will he snuff out the good work He has begun. Without God we can do nothing; he is the author and finisher of our faith. So we take hope, rejoicing not in ourselves but in God. 

Sibbes spends the bulk of his book encouraging believers who know their brokenness; who see (and revile) their sin; who are tempted to despair when gazing upon the remaining evil in us (even as we recognize hints of good). To remember that a broken heart God will not despise. And behold, He is making all things new. "A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of true hope"; "none are fitter for comfort than those that think themselves furthest off."

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This is an encouraging read. Like other Puritan volumes I have read, this is a mixture of powerful and profound truths written in a style that can be very hard to follow in places. But overall, highly recommended.

- Rating: A