A12167:399
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.
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.
And for the Motions of his Spirit, who are there at this time, who thus live in the Church under the Ministerie, who cannot say that God thereby hath smote their hearts, those hard rockes againe and againe, and awaked their consciences, partly with corrections publike and personall, and partly with benefits: yet notwithstanding what little way is given to Christ? Many are indifferent, and lukewarme either way, but rather incline to the worst.
Let us then consider of it, The greater means, the greater judgement afterwards, if we be not won by them. Therefore let us labour to hold Christ, to entertain him, let him have the best room in our souls, to dwell in our hearts, let us give up the keys to him, and desire him to rule our understandings, to know nothing but him, and what may stand with his truth, Not to yield to any error, or corruption; let us desire that he would rule in our wills, and affections, sway all, give all to him; for that is his meaning; when he says, Open to me, so that I may rule, as in mine own house, ⟨p. 157⟩as the husband rules in his family, and a King in his Kingdom, he will have all yielded up to him, And he comes to beat down all whatsoever is exalted against him, and that is the reason men are so loath to open unto him. They know if they open to the Spirit of God, he will turn them out of their fools Paradise, and make them resolve upon other courses of life, which because they will not turn unto, they repel the sweet motions of the Spirit of Christ, and pull away his Graces, building bulwarks against Christ,1