The Bruised Reed: With An Introductory Essay

by Richard Sibbes

Moses without all mercy breaketh all bruised reeds, and quencheth all smoking flax. For the law requireth: personal, perpetual, perfect obedience, and from a perfect heart; and that under a most terrible curse, and giveth no strength, a severe taskmaster, like Pharaoh’s requiring the whole tale, and yet giving no straw. Christ cometh with blessing after blessing even upon those whom Moses had cursed, and with healing balm for those wounds which Moses had made. The same duties are required in both covenants; as “to love the Lord with all our hearts, with all our souls” (Deut. 6:5). In the covenant of works, this must be taken in the rigor; but under the covenant of grace, as it is a sincere endeavor proportional to grace received (and so it must be understood of Josias, and others, when it is said, “they loved God with all their hearts,” etc.), it must have an evangelical mitigation. The law is sweetened by the Gospel, and becometh delightful to the inner man (Rom. 7:22).