A12167:1115
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.
The last thing implied is courage, a branch of the former, say all against it what they can, saith the resolved soul, I will be Christs, here is courage with resolution, agreeable hereto is that, Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, another shall subscribe and surname himself by the name of Israel. Where there is not this resolution in good causes, there is not the Spirit of Christ, there is no […] into Christ, it is but a delusion and self-flattery to say I am Christs, when there is not resolution to stand to Christ, these words are the expression of a resolved heart, I am, and J will be Christs, I am not ashamed of my bargain, of the consent I have given him, I am and I will be his. You have the like in Micah 4. 5. 1All people will walk every one in the name of his god, they will resolve on that, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and for ever: so that where these words are spoken in truth, that J am Christs, there is necessarily implied, I will own him and his cause for ever and ever. He hath married, me for ever and ever, therefore ⟨p. 451⟩if J hope to have inte••st in him for comfort for ever and ever, I must be sure to yield my self to him for ever and ever, and stand for his cause in all oppositions against all enemies whatsoever. These and such like places in Scripture run parallel with this in the text, I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine, not only holding in the person, but in the cause of Christ. Every man hopes his god will stand for him against the Devil who accuseth us daily: if we will have Christ to stand for us and to be an advocate to plead our ca•se (as he doth) in Heaven, we must resolve to stand for him against all enemies, Heretics, Schismatics, Persecutors whatsoever, that we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever.
The last thing implyed is courage, a branch of the former, say all against it what they can, saith the resolved soule, I will be Christs, here is courage with resolution, agreeable hereto is that, Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lords, and another shall call himselfe by the name of Iaacob, another shall subscribe and surname himselfe by the name of Israel. Where there is not this resolution in good causes, there is not the Spirit of Christ, there is no into Christ, it is but a delusion and selfe-flattery to say I am Christs, when there is not resolution to stand to Christ, these words are the expression of a resolved heart, I am, and J will be Christs, I am not ashamed of my bargaine, of the consent I have given him, I am and I will be his. You have the like in