A12167:326
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.
When a man believes, that all these things shall be on fire ere long, that Heaven and Earth shall fall in pieces, that we shall be called to give an account; before that time we may be taken away. Is it not a wonder we stand so long, when Cities, stone walls fall, and Kingdoms come to sudden periods? When faith apprehends, and sets this to the eye of the soul, it affects the same marvellously: Therefore let faith set before the soul some present thoughts according to its temper, sometimes terrible things to awaken it out of its dullness: Sometimes glorious things, Promises, and Mercies, to waken it out of its sadness, &c. When we are in a prosperous estate let faith make present all the sins and temptations that usually accompany such an estate, as Pride, security, self-applause and the like: if in adversity, think also of what sins may beset us there, this will awaken up such graces in us, as are suitable to such an estate for the preventing of such sins and temptations, and so keep our hea••s in exercise to godliness: then which, nothing will more prevent sleeping.
When a man believes, that all these things shall be on fire ere long, that Heaven and Earth shall fall in peeces, that we shall be called to give an account; before that time we may be taken away. Is it not a wonder we stand so long, when Cities, stone walls fall, and Kingdomes come to suddaine periods? When faith apprehends, and setts this to the eye of the soule, it affects the same marvellously: Therfore let faith set before the soule some present thoughts according to its temper, sometimes terrible things to awaken it out of its dulnesse: Sometimes glorious things, Promises, and Mercies, to waken it out of its sadnesse, &c. When we are in a prosperous estate let faith make present all the sinnes and temptations that usually accompany such an estate, as Pride, security, selfe-applause and the like: if in adversitie, thinke also of what sinnes may beset us there, this will awaken up such graces in us, as are sutable to such an estate for the preventing of such sinnes and temptations, and so keepe our hea••s in exercise to godlinesse: then which, nothing will more prevent sleeping.