A12167:482
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 the ground of it is; Because that at the same time, the soul may be in some measure defiled in it self, and yet notwithstanding be undefiled in her head and husband Christ. Hence the guilty soul, when it feels corruption and sin, yet notwithstanding doth see it self holy, and clean in Christ the head, and so at once there is a conscience of sin, and no more conscience of sin, as the Apostle saith, Heb. 10. 2. when we believe in Christ, and are purged with his blood, that is, there is no more guilt of sin binding over to eternal damnation, yet notwithstanding always there is a conscience of sin, for we are guilty of infirmities,1 And if we say we have no sin we lie and deceive our selves.
And the ground of it is; Because that at the same time, the soule may be in some measure defiled in it selfe, and yet notwithstanding be undefiled in her head and husband Christ. Hence the guilty soule, when it feeles corruption and sinne, yet notwithstanding doth see it selfe holy, and cleane in Christ the head, and so at once there is a conscience of sinne, and no more conscience of sinne, as the Apostle saith, Heb. 10. 2. when we believe in Christ, and are purged with his bloud, that is, there is no more guilt of sin binding over to eternall damnation, yet notwithstanding alwayes there is a conscience of sinne, for we are guilty of infirmities,1 And if we say we have no sinne we lie and deceive our selves.
But, How can this be that there should be conscience of sin, and no conscience of sin,