A12167:1199
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.
This should show us (likewise) our own blessedness that live in these times wherein the streams of the Gospel run abundantly,1 sweetly and pleasantly. There is a fullness among us (even in the spirits of the worst sort) there is a fullness almost to loathing of that heavenly Manna: but those souls who ever were acquainted with the necessity of it rather find a want then a fullness, and still desire to grow up to a further desire, that as they have plentiful means, so they may have plentiful affections after, and strength by those means: let us know our own happiness in these times. Is it not a comfort to know where to feed and to have pastures to go to, without suspicion of poison? that we may feed our selves with comforts fully without fear of bane, or noisome mingling of Coloquintida in the pot, which would disrelish all the rest? To know that there are truths that we may feed on safely. This the Church in the former place, Cant. 1. 6, 7. accounted a great privilege, Oh show me where thou f••dest at noon, In the greatest heat of persecution, that I may feed among them; ⟨p. 489⟩so then it is a great privilege to know where to feed, and so to be esteemed, that thereby we may be stirred up to be thankful for our own good, and to improve these privileges to our souls comfort.
This should shew us (likewise) our owne blessednesse that live in these times wherein the streames of the Gospell runne aboundantly,1 sweetly and pleasantly. There is a fullnesse among us (even in the spirits of the worst sort) there is a fulnesse almost to loathing of that heavenly Mannah: but those soules who ever were acquainted with the necessity of it rather finde a want then a fullnesse, and still desire to grow up to a further desire, that as they have plentifull meanes, so they may have plentifull affections after, and strength by those meanes: let us know our owne happinesse in these times. Is it not a comfort to know where to feed and to have pastures to goe to, without suspition of poyson? that we may feed our selves with comforts fully without feare of bane, or noysome mingling of Coloquintida in the pot, which would disrelish all the rest? To know that there are truths that we may feede on safely. This the Church in the former place,