Sibbs (or Sibbes), Richard, Dd

Sibbs (Or Sibbes), Richard, D.D.,

a learned English Puritan divine, was born at Sudbury, Suffolk, in 1577, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he took his degree with great applause, and obtained a fellowship. Taking orders, he was chosen lecturer of Trinity Church, Cambridge, the living of which he held during the last two years of his life. He became preacher to the Society of Gray's Inn in 1618, and in 1625 was chosen master of Katherine Hall, Cambridge, which, though a Puritan, he held with little molestation until his death. Dr. Sibbs died July 5, 1635. His works are very numerous, chiefly sermons and pious treatises. An incomplete edition of these was published (Lond. 1809; Aberdeen, 1812) entitled Sibbs's Works. Mr. Pickering published several of his treatises (1837-38, 2 vols. 12mo), viz. The Soul's Conflict and Victory, etc.: — The Inward Disquietments of Distressed Spirits, etc.: — The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax: — The Fountain Sealed: — and Description of Christ. Still later we have Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, D.D., ed. by R.A.B. Grosart (Edinb. 1862, 7 vols. 8vo). Richard Baxter tells us that he in a great measure owed his conversion to The Bruised Reed. As a commentator, his principal work is his Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1 (1655). See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Neal, Hist. of the Puritans, 2, 294.