A12167:324
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.
Make the heart think of the shortness, and vanity of this life, 1with the uncertainty of the time of our death; and of what wondrous consequent it is to be in the state of Grace before we die. The uncertainty of the gales of Grace, that there may be a good hour,2 3which if we pass, we may never have the like again. As the Angel descended at a certain hour into the pool of Bethesda, 4when those that entered not immediately after, went away sick as they came. So there are certain good hours, which let us not neglect, this will help to keep us waking. The Necessity of Grace, 5and then the free dispensing of it in Gods good time, and withal the terror of the Lords day,6 Remembering (saith St. Paul) the terror of the Lord, I labour to stir up all men, &c. Indeed it should make us stir up our hearts, when we consider the terror of the Lord, to think, that ere long, we shall be all drawn to an exact account, before a strict, precise Judge; And shall our eyes then be sleeping and careless? These and such like considerations out of spiritual wisdom we should propound to our selves, that so we might have waking souls, and preserve them in a right temper.
Make the heart thinke of the shortnesse, and vanity of this life, 1with the uncertainty of the time of our death; and of what wondrous consequent it is to be in the state of Grace before we die. The uncertainty of the gales of Grace, that there may be a good houre,2 3which if we passe, we may never have the like againe. As the Angell descended at a certaine houre into the poole of Bethesda,