A12167:513
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.
Some others pretend, The uncomfortableness of Religion, I shall want my comforts, when as indeed there is no sound comfort without having our hearts in a perfect communion with Christ, walking with God, and breaking of from our evil courses. What is the reason of discomforts, unresolvedness, and unsettledness? when we know not where we are, whether we go, or what our condition is, unsettledness breeds discomfort, and indeed there is no pleasure so much, as the pleasure that the serving of God hath with it. As the fire hath light and heat always in it, so there is no holy action that we perform throughly, but as it hath an increase of strength, so there is an increase of comfort and joy annexed to it. There is a prese•t reward annexed to all things that are spiritually ⟨p. 215⟩good: they carry with them present peace and joy, the conscience hath that present comfort, which consumes all discouragements whatsoever, as is always found in the experience of that soul, that hath won so much of it self, as to break through discouragements to the practise of holy duties. Believers have a joy and comfort, that others know not of: 1an hidden kind of Manna, and contentment.
Some others pretend, The uncomfortablenesse of Religion, I shall want my comforts, when as indeed there is no sound comfort without having our hearts in a perfect communion with Christ, walking with God, and breaking of from our evill courses. What is the reason of discomforts, unresolvednesse, and unsetlednesse? when we know not where we are, whether we goe, or what our condition is, unsetlednesse breedes discomfort, and indeed there is no pleasure so much, as the pleasure that the serving of God hath with it. As the fire hath light and heate alwayes in it, so there is no holy action that we performe throughly, but as it hath an increase of strength, so there is an increase of comfort and joy annexed to it. There is a prese•t reward annexed to all things that are spiritually ⟨p. 215⟩good: they carry with them present peace and joy, the conscience hath that present comfort, which consumes all discouragements whatsoever, as is alwayes found in the experience of that soule, that hath wonne so much of it selfe, as to breake through discouragements to the practise of holy duties. Beleevers have a joy and comfort, that others know not of: