A12167:1010
Bowels Opened
Bowels opened, or, A discovery of the near and deer love, union and communion betwixt Christ and the Church, and consequently betwixt Him and every believing soul Delivered in divers sermons on the fourth fifth and sixth chapters of the Canticles. By that reverend and faithful minister of the Word, Doctor Sibs, late preacher unto the honourable society of Gray's Inn, and Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge. Being in part finished by his own pen in his life time, and the rest of them perused and corrected by those whom he entrusted with the publishing of his works.Bovvels opened, or, A discovery of the neere and deere love, union and communion betwixt Christ and the Church, and consequently betwixt Him and every beleeving soule Delivered in divers sermons on the fourth fifth and sixt chapters of the Canticles. By that reverend and faithfull minister of the Word, Doctor Sibs, late preacher unto the honourable societie of Grayes Inne, and Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge. Being in part finished by his owne pen in his life time, and the rest of them perused and corrected by those whom he intrusted with the publishing of his works.
London: printed by George for George Edwards, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And let us make an Use of Trial whether he be thus lovely to us,1 or no, we may see hence whether we love Christ or no,2 We may judge of our love by our esteem. How do we value Christ, what price doth the Church set §1on him? He is the chief of ten thousand. 3What place then should he have in our hearts? If he be the chief of ten thousand, let us rather offend ten thousand then offend him. Let us say with David, 4whom have I in Heaven but thee, &c. And when the soul can say to Christ or any that is Christs (for I speak of him in the latitude of his Truths, Promises, Sacraments, and Communion with his children) What have I in Heaven but thee, &c. then it is in a happy condition. If these things have the same place in our esteem, as they have in respect of their own worth, then we may say truly without Hypocrisy, He is altogether lovely to us, that we truly love him.
And let us make an Use of Tryall whether he be thus lovely to us,1 or no, we may see hence whether we love Christ or no,2 We may judge of our love by our esteeme. How doe we value Christ, what price doth the Church set §1on him? He is the chiefe of tenne thousand. 3What place then should he have in our hearts? If he be the chiefe of tenne thousand, let us rather offend ten thousand then offend him. Let us say with David, 4whom have I in Heaven but thee, &c. And when the soule can say to Christ or any that is Christs (for I speake of him in the latitude of his Truths, Promises, Sacraments, and Communion with his children) What have I in Heaven but thee, &c. then it is in a happy condition. If these things have the same place in our esteeme, as they have in respect of their owne worth, then we may say truely without Hypocrisie, He is altogether lovely to us, that we truly love him.