A12167:214
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.
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.
That which we should labour to bring with us, is a taste of these dainties, & an appetite to them. The soule hath a taste of its owne, and as all creatures that have life, have a tast to relish and distinguish of that which is good for them, from that which is offensive: so wheresoever spirituall life is, there is likewise a taste sutable to the sweet relish that is in spirituall things. God should loose the glory of many excellent creatures, if there were not severall sences to discerne of severall goodnesse in them: so if there were not a taste in the soule we could never delight in God, and his rich goodnesse in Christ.
Taste is the most necessary sense for the preservation of the creature, because there is nearest application in taste, and that we should not be ⟨p. 74⟩deceived in taste, we hear, see and smell before, and if these senses give a good report of the object,1 then we taste of it and digest it and turn it into fit nourishment: so the spirit of man after judgement of the fitness of what is presented, tastes of it, delights in it, and is nourished by it. Ther• is an attractive drawing power in the soul whereby every member sucks that out of the food that is convenient for it: so the soul draws out what is well digested by judgement, and makes it its own for several uses.