A12167:125
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.
Another case is,1 when we will not forgive others. We know it is directly set down in the Lords §2Prayer. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us, and there is further added Vers. 15.2 If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you. If our hearts tell us we have no disposition to pardon, be at peace and agreement, then we do but take Gods Name in vain, when we ask him to forgive our sins, and we continue in envy and malice. In this case God will not regard our prayers, as it is said; I care not for your Prayers, or for any service you perform to me: why?3 For your hands are full of blood: you are unmerciful,4 of a cruel fierce disposition, which cannot appear before God rightly, nor humble it self in Prayer. If it doth; its own bloody and cruel disposition will be objected against the Prayers, which are not mingled with faith and love, but with wrath and bitterness. Shall I look for mercy that have no merciful heart my self? Can I hope to find that of God, that others cannot find from me? An unbroken disposition which counts Pride an ornament, that is cruel and fierce, it cannot go to God in Prayer. For, whosoever would prevail with God in prayer, must be humble: for our supplications must come from a loving peaceable disposition, where there is a resolution against all sin. 5Neither is it sufficient to avoid grudging and malice against these, but we must look that others have not cause to grudge ⟨p. 37⟩against us, as it is commanded. Matth. 5. 23. If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy Brother hath ought against thee: leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy Brother: and then come and offer thy gift. So that if we do not seek reconciliation with men unto whom we have done wrong, God will not be reconciled to us, nor accept any service from us.