A12167:124
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 there are diverse cases wherein the soul is not in a state fit for Prayer. 1As that first, Psal. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not §1regard my Prayer. If a man hath a naughty heart, that purposeth to live in any sin against God, he takes him for an enemy, and therefore will not regard his Prayer. Therefore we must come with a resolute purpose, to break off all sinful courses, and to give up our selves to the guidance of Gods Spirit.2 And this will be a forcible Reason to move us thereunto, because so long as we live in any known sin unrepented of: God neither regards us nor our prayers. What a fearful estate is this, that when we have such need of Gods favour in all estates; in sickness, the hour of death, and in spiritual temptation, to be in such a condition, as that we dare not go to God? Though our lives be civill, yet if we have false hearts that feed themselves with evil imaginations, and with a purpose of sinning (though we act it not) the Lord will not regard the prayers of such a one, they are abominable (The very ⟨p. 36⟩sacrifice of the wicked is abominable)
Now there are diverse cases wherein the soule is not in a state fit for Prayer. 1As that first, Psal. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not §1regard my Prayer. If a man hath a naughty heart, that purposeth to live in any sinne against God, he takes him for an enemy, and therefore will not regard his Prayer. Therefore we must come with a resolute purpose, to break off all sinfull courses, and to give up our selves to the guidance of Gods Spirit.2 And this will be a forcible Reason to move us thereunto, because so long as we live in any knowne sinne unrepented of: God neither regards us nor our prayers. What a fearfull estate is this, that when we have such need of Gods favour in all estates; in sicknesse, the houre of death, and in spirituall temptation, to be in such a condition, as that we dare not go to God? Though our lives be civill, yet if we have false hearts that feed themselves with evill imaginations, and with a purpose of sinning (though we act it not) the Lord will not regard the prayers of such a one, they are abominable (The very