A12167:493
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.
Again see here Christ accounts us (even in regard of habitual grace) undefiled, though we have for the present many corruptions. Let us therefore learn a lesson of moderation of so excellent a teacher▪ let us not be ashamed to learn of our Saviour. What spirit shall we ⟨p. 205⟩think they have, that will unchurch Churches, because they have some defilement and unbrotherly brethren, accounting them no Churches, no Brethren, because they have some imperfections. Why hath not Christ a quarrel to the Church then? is he blind? doth his love make him blind? No, he seeth corruption, but he seeth better things, somewhat of his own that makes him overlook those imperfections, because they are such as he means to mortify, subdue, wear away, and to fire out by the power of his Spirit, which as fire shall wast all those corruptions in time. So it is with the Church; put the case, she hath some corruptions, that it be not with her, as it should be, yet she is a Church notwithstanding.1 The Church of Corinth (we see) Paul stiles them Saints, and Brethren with all those sweet names, notwithstanding they had many corruptions among them.
Againe see here Christ accounts us (even in regard of habituall grace) undefiled, though we have for the present many corruptions. Let us therefore learne a lesson of moderation of so excellent a teacher▪ let us not be ashamed to learne of our Saviour. What spirit shall wee ⟨p. 205⟩thinke they have, that will unchurch Churches, because they have some defilement and unbrotherly bretheren, accounting them no Churches, no Bretheren, because they have some imperfections. Why hath not Christ a quarrell to the Church then? is hee blind? doth his love make him blind? No, hee seeth corruption, but hee seeth better things, somewhat of his owne that makes him overlooke those imperfections, because they are such as hee meanes to mortifie, subdue, weare away, and to fire out by the power of his Spirit, which as fire shall wast all those corruptions in time. So it is with the Church; put the case, she hath some corruptions, that it be not with her, as it should be, yet shee is a Church notwithstanding.