A12167:488
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.
My love, my Dove, &c.
There are all words of sweetness,1 he labours to express all the affection he can, for the conscience, is subject to upbraid and to clamour much, so that there must be a great deal of persuasion to still the accusing conscience of a sinner, to set it down, make it quiet, and persuade it of Gods love. Therefore he useth all heavenly Rhetoric to persuade and move the affections.
There are all words of sweetnesse,1 he lobours to expresse all the affection hee can, for the conscience, is subject to upbraid and to claimour much, so that there must bee a great deale of perswasion to still the accusing conscience of a sinner, to set it downe, make it quiet, and perswade it of Gods love. Therefore hee useth all heavenly Rhetoricke to perswade and move the affections.
- 1Use. 2.Vse. 2.
In this that the Church is undefiled in Christ,1 Let us learn when afflicted in conscience not so much to judge of our selves by what we feel in our selves as by what faith suggests. In Christ therefore let us judge of our selves by what we are as in him: We are poor in our selves, but have riches in him; we die in our selves in regard of this life, but we have a life in him, an eternal lfe, and we are sinners in our selves, but we have a Righteousness in him whereby we are righteous in his sight. We are foolish,