A12167:302
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 4 › I sleep but my heart waketh.Sermon 4 › 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.
To come in particular, what is that good the Church here confesseth,1 when she saith, that her heart waketh? She in her sleepy estate, first hath her judgement sound in that which is truth of persons, things, and courses. Christians are not so benighted when they sleep, or given up to such a reprobate judgement, as that they discern not differences: they can discern that such are in a good way, and such are not; that such means are good, and such are not; a Christian oft times is forced to do work out of judgement, in case his affections are asleep or distracted, and such works are approved of God, as they come from a right judgement and conviction, though the evil of them be chastised.
To come in particular, what is that good the Church here confesseth,1 when shee saith, that her heart waketh? Shee in her sleepie estate, first hath her judgement sound in that which is truth of persons, things, and courses. Christians are not so benighted when they sleepe, or given up to such a reprobate judgement, as that they discerne not differences: they can discerne that such are in a good way, and such are not; that such meanes are good, and such are not; a Christian oft times is forced to doe worke out of judgement, in case his affections are asleep or distracted, and such workes are approved of God, as they come from a right judgement and conviction, though the evill of them be chastised.
- 1What the Church acknowledgeth in her heart waking though asleep.What the Church acknowledgeth in her heart waking though asleepe.
But all is not in the judgement.1 The child of God asleep hath a working in the will, choosing the better part which he will cleave too, he hath a general purpose to please God in all things, and no settled purpose in particular for to sleep thus: answerable to his judgement therefore he chooseth the better part, and side, he owns God, and his cause, even in evil times, cleaving in resolution of heart to the best ways, though with weakness.