A12167:250
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.
4. Mark further one sign of a gracious soul, to be abased for lesser defects, sleepiness and indisposition to good. One would think drowsiness were no such great matter; O but the Church had such sweet acquaintance with Christ, that every little indisposition that hindered any degree of communion was grievous to her. You shall have a Judas, a Saul, an enormous offender confess great falls that gripe his conscience; all shall be cast up, that the conscience being disburdened may feel a little ease: but how few have you humbled for dullness of spirit, want of love, of zeal, and cheerfulness in duty: This accompanied with strife against it, argues a good spirit indeed.
4. Marke further one signe of a gracious soule, to be abased for lesser defects, sleepinesse and indisposition to good. One would thinke drowsinesse were no such great matter; O but the Church had such sweet acquaintance with Christ, that every little indisposition that hindered any degree of communion was grievous to her. You shall have a Iudas, a Saul, an enormious offender confesse great falls that gripe his conscience; all shall be cast up, that the conscience being disburdened may feele a little ease: but how few have you humbled for dulnesse of spirit, want of love, of zeale, and cheerfulnesse in duty: This accompanied with strife against it, argues a good spirit indeed.
A carnal man is not more humbled for gross sins, than a gracious Christian for wants in good actions, when it is not with him as it hath been, and as he would. The reason is, where ⟨p. 87⟩there is a clear and heavenly light, there lesser mo•es are discernible: and spiritual life is sensible of any obstruction and hinderance. This goeth in the world for unnecessary nicety: the world straineth not at these gnats: But those, upon whose hearts the Sun of righteousness hath shined, have both a clear sight and a tender heart.
A carnall man is not more humbled for grosse sinnes, than a gracious Christian for wants in good actions, when it is not with him as it hath been, and as he would. The reason is, where