A12167:378
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.
Now this Spirit with sweet inspirations knocks, moves the heart, lightens the understanding, quickens the dull affections, and stirs them up to duty, as it is, Isay. 30. 21. And thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee saying, This is the way, walk in it. The Spirit moves us sweetly agreeable to our own nature, it offers not violence to us; But so as in Hosea. 11. 4. I drew them by the cords of a man. That is, by reasons and motives befitting the nature of man, motives of love. So the Spirit together with the word, works upon us, as we are men by rational motives, setting good before us, If we will let Christ in to govern, and rule us; and by the danger on the contrary, so moving, and stirring up our affections, These be the cords of a man.
Now this Spirit with sweete inspirations knockes, mooves the heart, lightens the understanding, quickens the dull affections, and stirrs them up to dutie, as it is, Isay. 30. 21. And thine eares shall heare a voice behind thee saying, This is the way, walke in it. The Spirit mooves us sweetly agreeable to our owne nature, it offers not violence to us; But so as in Hosea. 11. 4. I drew them by the cordes of a man. That is, by reasons and motives befitting the nature of man, motives of love. So the Spirit together with the vvord, workes upon us, as we are men by rationall motives, setting good before us, If we will let Christ in to governe, and rule us; and by the danger on the contrary, so mooving, and stirring up our affections, These be the cords of a man.
And besides his Spirit, God hath planted in §6us a Conscience to call upon us,1