A12167:316
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.
A Christian is what his heart, and inward man is, It is a true speech of Divines God and nature begin there. Art begins with the face and outward lineaments, as hypocrisy, outward painting, and expressions: But grace at the Centre, and from thence goes to the Circumference; And therefore the Church values her self here by the disposition, and temper of her heart. Thus I am for my outward carriage, &c. I sleep, but my heart that waketh.
A Christian is what his heart, and inward man is, It is a true speech of Divines God and nature beginne there. Art beginns with the face and outward lyniaments, as hypocrisie, outward painting, and expressions: But grace at the Center, and from thence goes to the Circumference; And therefore the Church values her selfe here by the disposition, and temper of her heart. Thus I am for my outward carriage, &c. I sleepe, but my heart that waketh.
Therefore let us enter into our consciences and souls for the trial of our estates, how it is with our judgements, Do we allow of the ways of God, and of the Law of the inward man? How is it with our affections, and bent to good things? How with our hatred, our zeal? Is it not more for outward things, then for inward? We know what I•hu said to Jonadab, when he would have him into his Chariot, Is thine heart as mine, then come to me? So saith Christ, is thine heart as mine, then give me thy hand, but first God must have our hearts, and then our hands; A man otherwise is but a ghost in Religion, which goes up and down without a spirit of its own, but a picture, that hath an outside, and is nothing within. Therefore especially, let us look to our hearts, Oh that th•re were such an heart in this people (saith God to Moses) to fear […], for their good; This is it, that Gods children desire, that their hearts may be aright se•. Wash thy heart O […] (saith the Prophet) from thy wickedness, &c. ⟨p. 115⟩Indeed all the outward man depends upon this; Therefore Satan, if he can get this fort, he is safe,