A12167:1159
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.
See hence likewise,1 the nature of Faith: for these are the words of Faith,2 as well as of love,3 Faith hath two branches, it doth give as well as take. Faith receives Christ, and says, Christ is mine, and the same Faith saith, I am Christs again. Indeed our souls are empty, so that the main work of Faith is to be an empty hand, Mendica manus, (as Luther calls it) a beggars hand to receive, but when it hath received, it gives back again, both our selves and all that we can do. as 2. Cor. 8. 5. the Churches of Macedonia gave themselves, and then they gave their goods. Where Faith is, there will be a giving of our selves and our goods, and (by a proportion) our strength, wits and all back again. This discovers a great deal of empty false Faith in the world, for undoubtedly if it were true Faith, there would be a yielding back again.
See hence likewise,1 the nature of Faith: for these are the words of Faith,2 as well as of love,3 Faith hath two branches, it doth give as well as take. Faith receives Christ, and sayes, Christ is mine, and the same Faith saith, I am Christs againe. Indeed our soules are empty, so that the maine worke of Faith is to be an empty hand, Mendica manus, (as Luther calls it) a beggers hand to receive, but when it hath received, it gives backe againe, both our selves and all that we can doe. as 2. Cor. 8. 5. the Churches of Macedonia gave themselves, and then they gave their goods. Where Faith is, there will be a giving of our selves and our goods, and (by a proportion) our strength, wits and all backe againe. This discovers a great deale of empty false Faith in the world, for undoubtedly if it were true Faith, there would be a yeelding backe againe.