A12167:242
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
Sermon 3 › I sleep, but my heart waketh.Sermon 3 › I sleepe, but my heart waketh.
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.
2.1 We see by comparing the state of the Church here with the state of it in the third Chapter, that where corruption is not thoroughly purged, and a careful watch kept over the soul, there after a recovery will follow a more dangerous distemper, corruption will not only strive for life, but for rule. If there had been a thorough reformation in the Church after her former trouble, and a thorough closing with Christ, she would not thus have fallen into a more dangerous condition. We see David in his later times falls to numbering of the people; and Samson after he had done great services for the Church, at length shamefully betrays his strength; and he that had ruled others, submits to be ruled by a base strumpet. Jonah for not thorough repenting for his running from his ⟨p. 84⟩calling, falls after to quarrel with God himself. It is the best therefore to deal thoroughly with our hearts, else fl•sh unsubdued will owe us a greater shame, and we shall dishonour our own beginnings. Yet this is the comfort, that this will occasion deeper humility; and hatred of sin in those that are Gods, and a faster cleaving to God than ever before, as we see in the Church here: afterwards grace will have the better at last.
2.1 We see by comparing the state of the Church here with the state of it in the third Chapter, that where corruption is not thorowly purged, and a carefull watch kept over the soule, there after a recovery will follow a more dangerous distemper, corruption will not onely strive for life, but for rule. If there had beene a thorow reformation in the Church after her former trouble, and a thorow closing with Christ, she would not thus have fallen into a more dangerous condition. We see David in his later times fals to numbring of the people; and Samson after he had done great services for the Church, at length shamefully betrayes his strength; and he that had ruled others, submits to be ruled by a base strumpet. Ionas for not thorough repenting for his running from his ⟨p. 84⟩calling, falls after to quarrell with God himselfe. It is the best therefore to deale thorowly with our hearts, els flsh unsubdued will owe us a greater shame, and we shall dishonour our owne beginnings. Yet this is the comfort, that this will occasion deeper humility; and hatred of sin in those that are Gods, and a faster cleaving to God than ever before, as we see in the Church here: afterwards grace will have the better at last.