A12167:495
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 likewise,1 It should teach us not to wrong our selves with false judgement. We should have a double eye, one eye to see that which is amiss in us, our own imperfections, thereby to carry our selves in a perpetual humility: but an other eye of Faith, to see what we have in Christ, our perfection in him, so to account of our selves, and glory in this our best being, that in him we have a glorious being, such an one whereby God esteems us perfect, and undefiled in him only. The one of which sights, should enforce us to the other, which is one end, why God in this world leaves corruption in his children. Oh, since I am thus undefiled shall I rest in my self? Is there any harbour for me to rest in mine own Righteousness? O no, it drives a man out of all harbour; Nay, I will rest in that Righteousness, which God hath wrought by Christ, who is God-Man, That will endure the sight of God, being clothed with which, • can endure the presence of God. So, this sight of our own unworthiness, and wants, should not be a ground of discouragement, but a ground to drive us perfectly out of our selves, that by faith we might renew our title to that Righteousness, wherein is our especial glory, Why should w• not judge of our selv•• as Christ doth? Can we see more ⟨p. 207⟩in our selves, then he doth? yet notwithstanding all he sees, he accounts us as Undefiled.
And lik•wise,1 It should teach us not to wrong our selves with false judgement. Wee should have a double eye, one eye to see that which is amisse in us, our owne imperfections, thereby to carry our selves in a perpetuall humility: but an other eye of Faith, to see what we have in Christ, our perfection in him, so to account of our selves, and glory in this our best beeing, that in him wee have a glorious beeing, such an one whereby God esteemes us perfect, and undefiled in him onely. The one of which sights, should inforce us to the other, which is one end, why God in this world leaves corruption in his children. Oh, since I am thus undefiled shall I rest in my selfe? Is there any harbour for me to rest in mine owne Righteousnesse? O no, it drives a man out of all harbour; Nay, I will rest in that Righteousnesse, which God hath wroght by Christ, who is God-Man, That will indure the sight of God, beeing cloathed with which, can indure the presence of God. So, this sight of our owne unworthinesse, and wants, should not be a ground of discouragemet, but a ground to drive us perfectly out of our selves, that by faith we might renew our title to that Righteousnesse, wherein is our especiall glory, Why should w not judge of our selv as Christ doth? Can we see more