Soul Care (1)

A godly man's care and trouble is especially about his soul. When God touches our bodies, our estates, or our friends, he aims at the soul in all. God will never remove his hand, until something be wrought upon the soul. In sickness, or in any other trouble, it is best the divine should be before the physician, and that men begin where God begins. In great fires, men look first to the jewels, and then to their lumber; so our soul is our best jewel. A carnal, worldly man is called, and well called, a fleshly man, because his very soul is flesh, and there is nothing but the world in him. When all is not well within, he cries out, 'My body is troubled, my state is broken, my friends fail me.' But all the while, there is no care for the poor soul, to settle a peace there.
The possession of the soul is the richest possession, no jewel so precious. The account for our own souls and the souls of others, is the greatest account, and therefore the care of souls should be the greatest care. What an indignity it is that we should forget such souls to satisfy our lusts! To have our wills! To be vexed with any, who by their judgment, example, or authority, stop, as we suppose, our courses! Is it not the greatest plot in the world, first, to have their lusts satisfied; secondly, to remove, either by fraud or violence, whatever stands in their way; and, thirdly, to put colours and pretences upon this to delude the world and themselves. Employing all their carnal wit and worldly strength for their carnal aims, and fighting for that which fights against their own souls? For, what will be the issue of this but certain destruction?

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Soul's Conflict with Itself, Works, vol. 1, pp. 149-50
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.