A12167:396
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.
Oh,1 but take heed that these make not any secure. For if we give not entrance to Christ, all this vvill be a further aggravation of our Damnation. How vvill this justify the sentence upon us hereafter, when Christ shall set us on the left hand,2 and say Depart from me, for I ⟨p. 154⟩invited you to come to me, I knocked at the door of your hearts, and you would give me no entrance, Depart from us said you, therefore now Depart you from me. What do profane persons in the Church? but bid Christ depart from them, especially in the motions of his Spirit, they entertain him in the outward room, the brain; they know a little of Christ, but in the heart, the secret room, he must not, come there to rule. Is it not equal, that he should bid us,3 Depart ye cursed I know you not? you would not give entrance to me, I will not now to you; as to the foolish Virgins he speaks, and Prov. 1. 28. Wisdom knocks, and hath no entrance, therefore in times of danger, they call upon Her, but she rejoiceth at their destruction; Where God magnifies his mercy in this kind in sweet allurements, and inviting by Judgements, Mercies, Ministry, and Spirit, he will magnify his Judgement after. Those that have neglected Heaven with the Prerogatives, and advantages in this kind, they shall be cast into Hell.4 Woe to thee Chorazin, &c. as you know in the Gospel. This is one thing that may humble us of this place and nation, that Christ hath no further entrance, nor better entertainment after so long knocking? for the entertaining of his word, is the welcoming of himself, as it is, Coloss. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you. And let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith. Ephes. 3. 17. Compare those places, let the word dwell plenteously ⟨p. 155⟩