A12167:213
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.
Our duty is to accept of Christs inviting of us, what will we do for him if we will not feast with him, we will not suffer with him, if we will not feast with him, we will not suffer with him, if we will not joy with him and in him. Happy are they that come, though compelled by crosses and other sharp ways. If we rudely and churlishly refuse his feast here, we are like never to taste of his feast hereafter. Nothing provokes so deeply as kindness despised. It was the cause of the Jews rejection.1 How shall we escape, not if we persecute, but if we do but neglect so great salvation.
Our duty is to accept of Christs inviting of us, what will we doe for him if we will not feast with him, we will not suffer with him, if we will not feast with him, we will not suffer with him, if we will not joy with him and in him. Happy are they that come, though compelled by crosses and other sharp waies. If we rudely and churlishly refuse his feast heere, we are like never to taste of his feast hereafter. Nothing provokes so deepely as kindnesse despised. It was the cause of the Iewes rejection.1 How shall we escape, not if we persecute, but if we doe but neglect so great salvation.
That which we should labour to bring with us, is a taste of these dainties, & an appetite to them. The soul hath a taste of its own, and as all creatures that have life, have a taste to relish and distinguish of that which is good for them, from that which is offensive: so wheresoever spiritual life is, there is likewise a taste suitable to the sweet relish that is in spiritual things. God should loose the glory of many excellent creatures, if there were not several senses to discern of several goodness in them: so if there were not a taste in the soul we could never delight in God, and his rich goodness in Christ.