A12167:395
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 such considerations as these being mixed with the Spirit and set on by him, are effectual for the conversion of poor souls. Is there such love in God, to become man, and to be a Suitor to woe me for my love? Surely thinks the soul then, he desires my Salvation, and Conversion; And to what kind of persons doth he come? None can Object unworthiness, I am poor;1 he comes to the poor. I am laden,2 and wretched? Come unto me all ye that are weary, and laden. I have nothing; Come and buy honey,3 milk, and wine, though you have nothing. He takes away all Objections. But I am stung with the sense of my sins?4 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst, &c. But I am empty of all? Blessed are the poor in Spirit. You can object nothing, but it is taken away by the Holy Ghost, wisely preventing all the Objections of a sinful soul. This is the beginning of Conversion, these very conceits; and when we are converted, these thoughts entertained with admiration of Christs condescending, are effectual to give Christ further entrance into the soul, whereby a more happy communion is wrought still more and more between Christ, and the soul of a Christian.
Novv such considerations as these being mixed vvith the Spirit and set on by him, are effectuall for the conversion of poore soules. Is there such love in God, to become man, and to be a Sutor to vvoe me for my love? Surely thinks the soule then, he desires my Salvation, and Conversion; And to vvhat kind of persons doth he come? None can Object unvvorthinesse, I am poore;1 hee comes to the poore. I am laden,2 and vvretched? Come unto mee all yee that are weary, and laden. I have nothing; Come and buy honey,3 milke, and wine, though you have nothing. He takes avvay all Objections. But I am stung vvith the sence of my sinnses?