A12167:527
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.
First of all,1 Resolve not to consult with flesh and §1blood in any thing; 2For it always counsels us for ease, as Peter counselled Christ, Master pity thy self. So we have a nature in us like unto Peter, spare, favour, pity thy self. Like Hevah, 3and Jobs wife, we have a corrupt nature that is always soliciting from God, and drawing us unto vanity. Take heed of counselling with flesh and blood; for if men were in a city environed round about with enemies would they consult with them what they should do for defence of the city? were it not a mad part? and is it not a greater madness when Christians will consult with flesh and blood what they should do in duties of obedience, which will always put us upon terms of ease, the favour of men, content and the like, which if a man yield to, he shall never enter into heaven. Take heed therefore of consulting with our enemy, seeing Satan hath all the correspondency he hath by that enemy which we harbour in our bosom. In which case the hurt he doth us by his sophistry comes by our selves, we betray our selves by our carnal reason, whereby Satan mingleth himself with our imaginations and conceits. Let us therefore beware we listen not to the counsel of flesh and blood, especially when the matter comes to suffering once, for there of all other things flesh and blood doth ⟨p. 223⟩draw back.▪ Every one hath a Peter in himself, that saith, Spare thy self; Thou art indiscreet to venture thy self upon this and that hazard. But where the judgment is convinced of the goodness of the cause, whether it be Religion or Justice, •or the first or for the second table that matters not; If the judgment be convinced of the thing; then consult not with flesh and blood whatsoever the suffering be. It is not necessary, that we should live in riches, honours, pleasures and estimation with the world. But it is necessary we should live honest men, and good Christians. Therefore when flesh and blood objecteth in this kind, consult not with it. First, Because it is an enemy, and therefore is to be suspected and neglected; Secondly, Because it is said,