A12167:1163
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.
To proceed to make an Use of Comfort to poor doubting Christians,1 I am my Beloveds, is the voice of the whole Church,2 that all ranks of Christians (if they be true) may without presumption take up. I have not so much Faith, so much love, so much grace, so much patience, as another (saith a poor Christian) therefore I am none of Christs▪ but we must know that Christ hath in his Church of all ranks, and they are all his Spouse, one as well as another, there is no exception, there is a little spirit of emulation, and a spice of envy in Christians that are weaker, if they have not all that great measure of grace which they see in others, they fear they have none at all, as if there were no Babes in Christs school, as well as men,3 and grown persons.
To proceed to make an Use of Comfort to poore doubting Christians,1 I am my Beloveds, is the voice of the whole Church,2 that all ranks of Christians (if they be true) may without presumption take up. I have not so much Faith, so much love, so much grace, so much patience, as another (saith a poore Christian) therefore I am none of Christs▪ but wee must know that Christ hath in his Church of all rancks, and they are all his Spouse, one as well as another, there is no exception, there is a little spirit of emulation, and a spice of envy in Christians that are weaker, if they have not all that great measure of grace which they see in others, they feare they have none at all, as if there were no Babes in Christs schoole, as well as men,3 and growne persons.
- 1Use. 4.Vse. 4.