Josiah's Reformation

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up.
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For the longest time, Richard Sibbes has been my go-to Puritan. His writing taps right into my heart. The doctrine is strong, the application wise, but throughout it all he's convicting and assuring (in the best way). This collection, sadly, just missed for me.

This is a collection of four sermons from 2 Chronicles describing the work of Josiah. It's a call to sincerity in the faith, of killing hypocrisy within, of the change that the preaching of free grace can make in the heart which spills into our lives. First and foremost, the goal isn't the benefits of Christ and desiring them, but to desire Him, to love Him—which will protect from hypocrisy and surface holiness by driving us to something deeper and truer. He then preaches about the art of self-humbling and mourning for our sin. The final sermon focuses on the true desire of the renewed heart—being gathered to Christ. Who doesn't need to hear/read this message?

It was probably me coming to it when I did, and nothing off in Sibbes' work. I can't point to a problem with the book, I just never connected with it. I can see the encouragement, the comfort, the urging to pursue holiness—it's all on-target, Biblical and well-written. But it left me feeling disappointed. Again, it's probably really good, and in a couple of years when I try it again, I won't understand my reaction.