A12167:376
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.
He speaks by them, and they use all kind of means that Christ may be entertained into their hearts. They move all stones (as it were) sometimes threatenings; sometimes entreaties, sometimes they come as sons of thunder, sometimes with the still voice of sweet promises; And because one man is not so fit as another for all varieties of conditions and Spirits, therefore God gives variety of gifts to his Ministers, that they may knock at the heart of every man by their several gifts. For some have more rousing, some more insinuating gifts, some more legal, some more evangelical spirits, yet all for the Churches good. John Baptist by a more thundering way of preaching, to make way for Christ to come, threateneth judgement. But Christ then he comes with a Blessed are the poor in Spirit, 1Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for Righteousness, &c. All kind of means have been used in the ministry from the beginning of the world.
Hee speakes by them, and they use all kind of meanes that Christ may be entertained into their hearts. They moove all stones (as it were) sometimes threatnings; sometimes intreaties, sometimes they come as sonnes of thunder, sometimes with the still voice of sweete promises; And because one man is not so fit as another for all varieties of conditions and Spirits, therefore God gives variety of gifts to his Ministers, that they may knocke at the heart of every man by their severall gifts. For some have more rouzing, some more insinuating gifts, some more lagall, some more evangelicall spirits, yet all for the Churches good. Iohn Baptist by a more thundering way of preaching, to make way for Christ to come, threatneth judgement. But Christ then he comes with a Blessed are the poore in Spirit, 1Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for Righteo•snesse, &c. All kind of meanes have beene used in the ministrie from the beginning of the world.