The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)

(4) Where this fire is, it will show a difference between such things as gold and dross. It will sever between flesh and spirit, and show that this is of nature, this of grace. All is not ill in a bad action, or good in a good action. There is gold in ore, which God and his Spirit in us can distinguish. This light makes us humble upon clearer sight of God's purity and our own uncleanness and makes us able to discern the work of the Spirit in another.
(5) So far as a man is spiritual, so far is light delightful to him. He is willing to see anything amiss that he may reform, and any further service discovered that he may perform. If he goes against light discovered, he will soon be reclaimed, because light has a friendly party within him. At a little sight of his error, he is soon open to counsel, as David was in his intention to kill Nabal; and he blessed God afterwards, when he was stopped (1 Sam. 25:32). In the case of a carnal man, the light breaks in on him, but he labours to block its entrance. He has no delight in coming to the light. It is impossible, before the Spirit of grace has subdued the heart, that it should not sin against the light, either by resisting it, keeping it prisoner under base lusts, or perverting it by making it an agent for the flesh; thus abusing that little measure of light men have so as to keep out a greater, higher, and more heavenly light. We see that light often enrages men. Those that plead and plot for liberties for the flesh show themselves strangers from the life of God. Feeling this inner strife, gracious men often complain that they have no grace. But they contradict themselves in their complaints, as if a man that sees should complain he cannot see; whereas the very complaint, springing from a displeasure against sin, shows that there is something in him opposite to sin. Can a dead man complain?

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Bruised Reed, pp. 40-42 [44-46]
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