A12167:1011
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.
In the next place, are we ready to suffer for §2Christ?1 we see the Church here endures any thing for Christ, she was mis-used of the watchmen, they scorned her, and her veil is taken away, yet notwithstanding she loves Christ still. Do we stand ready disposed to suffer for ⟨p. 402⟩Christ, of the world to be disgraced and censured, and yet are we resolved not to give over, nay do we love Christ the more, and stick to his truth the faster? Certainly where the love of Christ is, there is a spirit of Fortitude, as we may see in the Church here, who is not discouraged from Christ by any means, he is still the chief of ten thousand, when she was wronged for seeking after him, yet he was altogether lovely, whereas on the other hand, you have some that for frowns of greatness, fear of loss, or for hope of rising, will warp their conscience and do any thing. Where now is love to Christ and to Religion. He that loves Christ, loves him the more for his cross, as the Holy Ghost hath recorded of some, that they rejoiced that they were thought worthy to suffer for Christ. So the more we suffer for him, the more dear he will be to us. For indeed he doth present himself in love and comfort most to those that suffer for his sake, therefore their love is increased.
In the next place, are we ready to suffer for §2Christ?1 we see the Church here endures any thing for Christ, she was mis-used of the watchmen, they scorned her, and her vaile is taken away, yet notwithstanding she loves Christ still. Do we stand ready disposed to suffer for ⟨p. 402⟩Christ, of the world to be disgraced and censured, and yet are we resolved not to give over, nay doe we love Christ the more, and sticke to his truth the faster? Certainely where the love of Christ is, there is a spirit of Fortitude, as we may see in the Church here, who is not discouraged from Christ by any meanes, he is still the chiefe of tenne thousand, when she was wronged for seeking after him, yet hee was altogether lovely, whereas on the other hand, you have some that for frownes of greatnesse, feare of losse, or for hope of rising, will warpe their conscience and doe any thing. Where now is love to Christ and to Religion. He that loves Christ, loves him the more for his crosse, as the Holy Ghost hath recorded of some, that they rejoyced that they were thought worthy to suffer for Christ. So the more we suffer for him, the more deare he will be to us. For indeed he doth present himselfe in love and comfort most to those that suffer for his sake, therefore their love is increased.