A12167:499
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.
A Christian life should be nothing but a communion, and intercourse with Christ. A walking in the Spirit; and to be spiritual, and to savour the things of the Spirit altogether, he should study to adorn his profession by a lively and cheerful performance of duty:1 And be exemplary to others; and should be in such a frame,2 as he should walk continually in the comforts of the Holy Ghost undismayed, and undaunted, And abound in the fruits of the Spirit, and do all the good he can wheresoever he comes,3 He should keep himself unspotted of the world, go against the stream, and be-continually ⟨p. 210⟩in such a temper, as it should be the joy of his heart to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.4 One might go on thus in a world of particulars, which would be too long. If we could attain to this excellency, it were an happy life, a Heaven upon Earth, this we should aim at. Will the flesh endure this, think you? No, it will not; Which you shall see more particularly in this next Observation, which is,
A Christian life should be nothing but a communion, and entercourse with Christ. A walking in the Spirit; and to be spirituall, and to savour the things of the Spirit altogether, hee should studie to adorne his profession by a lively and cheerefull performance of dutie:1 And be exemplarie to others; and should be in such a frame,2 as he should walke continually in the comforts of the Holy Ghost undismayed, and undaunted, And abound in the fruits of the Spirit, and doe all the good he can wheresoever hee comes,3 Hee should keepe himselfe unspotted of the world, goe against the streame, and be-continually ⟨p. 210⟩