A12167:1018
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.
Now if the Ordinances of Christ, the Word and Sacraments, and the shutting sinners out of the Church, if these things be vilified as powerless things, it shows a degenerate wicked heart not acquainted with the ways of God. If we have a mean esteem of men that suffer for Christ and stand out for him, if we account them so and so, shall we think our selves Christians in the mean time, when Christ is altogether lovely, shall they be unlovely that carry the image of Christ, can we love him that begets and hate them that are begotten of him, can we love Christ and hate Christians, it cannot be.
Now if the Ordinances of Christ, the Word and Sacraments, and the shutting sinners out of the Church, if these things be vilified as powerlesse things, it shewes a degenerate wicked heart not acquainted with the waies of God. If we have a meane esteeme of men that suffer for Christ and stand out for him, if we account them so and so, shall we thinke our selves Christians in the meane time, when Christ is altogether lovely, shall they be unlovely that carry the image of Christ, can we love him that begets and hate them that are begotten of him, can we love Christ and hate Christians, it cannot be.
Now that we may get this affection and esteem of Christ,1 that is so lovely. Let us labour to make our sins bitter and loathsome,§1 that Christ may be sweet.2
Now that wee may get this affection and esteeme of Christ,1 that is so lovely. Let us labour to make our sinnes bitter and loathsome,§1 that Christ may be sweet.2