A12167:398
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.
As for his Ministerial knocking; above threescore years we have lived under the Ministry of the Gospel, this Land hath been Goshen, a land of light, when many other places are in darkness, especially we that live in this Goshen, this place, and such like, where the light shines in a more abundant measure. ⟨p. 156⟩Ministers have been sent, and variety of gifts, there hath been piping, and mourning (as Christ complains in his time) that they were like froward Children, that neither sweet piping, nor doleful mourning would move to be tractable to their fellows1 they had John who came mourning, and Christ comforting with blessing in his mouth, all kind of means have been used.
As for his Ministeriall knocking; above threescore yeares wee have lived under the Ministerie of the Gospell, this Land hath beene Goshen, a land of light, when many other places are in darkenesse, especially wee that live in this Goshen, this place, and such like, where the light shines in a more abundant measure. ⟨p. 156⟩Ministers have beene sent, and varietie of gifts, there hath beene piping, and mourning (as Christ complaines in his time) that they were like froward Children, that neither sweet piping, nor dolefull mourning would moove to be tractable to their fellowes1 they had Iohn who came mourning, and Christ comforting with blessing in his mouth, all kind of meanes have beene used.
And for the Motions of his Spirit, who are there at this time, who thus live in the Church under the Ministry, who cannot say that God thereby hath smote their hearts, those hard rocks again and again, and awaked their consciences, partly with corrections public and personal, and partly with benefits: yet notwithstanding what little way is given to Christ? Many are indifferent, and lukewarm either way, but rather incline to the worst.