A12167:322
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.
The Church you see supports and comforts her self that she was waking in her inward man, that she was happy in that respect. How shall we do to keep & preserve our souls in this waking condition,1 especially in these drowsy times?
The Church you see supports and comforts her selfe that she was waking in her inward man, that she was happy in that respect. How shall we do to keep & preserve our soules in this waking condition,1 especially in these drowsietimes?
- 1Quest.
1. Propound unto them waking considerations, What causeth our sleeps,1 but want of matters of more serious observation?2 None will sleep when a thing is presented of excellency more then ordinary. To see and know and think of what a state we are now advanced unto in Christ, what we shall be ere long, yet the fearful estate we should be in, if God leave us to our selves? A state of astonishment, miserable and wretched, beyond speech, nay beyond conceit. Thus did the blessed souls in former times exercise their thoughts, raise and stir them up by meditation, that so they might hold their souls in a high esteem of the best things, and not suffer them to sleep. We never fall to sleep in earthly and carnal delights, till the soul let its hold go of the best things, and ceaseth to think of, and to wonder at them. What made Moses to fall from the delights of Egypt? he saw the basest things in Religion, were greater, then the greatest things in the Court, yea in the World.3 He esteemed the reproach of Christ better then the greatest treasures of Egypt.