A12167:366
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.
Again, Discontinuing of Religious exercises doth wonderfully cause Christ to withdraw himself; He makes no more love to our souls, when we neglect the means, and discontinue holy exercises, and religious company, when we stir not up the graces of Gods Spirit; being this way negligent, it is no wonder that Christ makes no more love to our souls, when we prize and value not the communion that should be between the soul, and Christ, as we should. Whom have I in heaven, but thee?1 Thy loving kindness is better then life. (saith the Psalmist) when we prize not this, it is just with Christ to make himself strange.2 Where love is not valued, and esteemed, it is estranged, and for a while hides it self. So that these with other courses, and ⟨p. 138⟩failings, we may find to be the ground, and reason of the strangeness between Christ and the soul, for certainly the cause is not in him: for we see here,3 he useth all means to be entertained by a Christian soul, he knocks.
Againe, Discontinuing of Religious exercises doth wonderfully cause Christ to withdraw himselfe; He makes no more love to our soules, when we neglect the meanes, and discontinue holy exercises, and religious companie, when we stirre not up the graces of Gods Spirit; being this way negligent, it is no wonder that Christ makes no more love to our soules, when we prize and value not the communion that should be betweene the soule, and Christ, as we should. Whom have I in heaven, but thee?1 Thy loving kindnesse is better then life. (saith the Psalmist) when we prize not this, it is just with Christ to make himselfe strange.2 Where love is not valued, and esteemed, it is estranged, and for a while hides it selfe. So that these with other courses, and ⟨p. 138⟩failings, we may finde to be the ground, and reason of the strangenesse betweene Christ and the soule, for certainely the cause is not in him: for we see here,