A12167:384
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.
Because he will preserve Nature, 1and the principles thereof, and so he deals with us, working accordingly; the manner of working of the reasonable creature, is to work freely by a sweet inclination, not by violence. Therefore when he works the work of Conversion, ⟨p. 149⟩he doth it in a sweet manner, though it be mighty for the E•ficaciousnes of it, he admonisheth us with entreaty, and persuasion, as if we did it our selves. But though the manner be thus sweet, yet with this manner there goeth an almighty power. Therefore he doth it strongly as coming from himself, and sweetly, as the speaking is to us preserving our Nature, so the Action is from him, which hath an almighty power with it.2 As Holy Bernard saith Thou dealest sweetly with my soul in regard of my self, (That is, thou workest upon me, as a man with the words of love,)yet strongly in regard of thy self. For except he add strength with sweetness, the work will not follow; but when there are both, an almighty work is wrought in the soul of a Christian; and so wrought, as the manner of mans working is preserved in a sweet and free manner, whilst he is changed from contrary to contrary; And it is also with the greatest reason that can be, In that now he sees more reason to be good, then in the days of darkness he did to be naught, God works so sweetly. God speaks to us fter the manner of men, but he works in us as the great God; he speaks to us as a man in our own language, sweetly; but he works in us almightily, after a powerful manner, as God; so we must understand such phrases as these, I knock, open to me, my Love, my Dove, &c. we may take further notice,