A12167:530
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 to help Resolution the more,1 let us have before our eyes,2 the examples of Gods worthies, who (like unto Davids worthies, who ⟨p. 225⟩brake through the Host of the Philistines for water) Have in all ages broken through all discouragements, and made a conscience more to please God, to hold communion and fellowship with Christ, then to hold any correspondency with the World, Look to Blessed Paul,3 What do ye vexing of me and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to go to Jerusalem, but to die for Christs sake. And look to Christ, how he shakes of Peter,4 Get thee behind me Sat•n, &c. Look to Moses, how he shook off all the solicitations of a Court; Because he had an eye to the recompense of the reward. Look to Joshua,5 I and mine house will serve the Lord. 6Let others of the world do what they will: If others will go to the Devil let them, for my self, I and my house, (those that I have charge of) will serve the Lord. This was a noble resolution which was in good Nehemiah, Shall such a man as I fly? 7what shall J fly? shall I do this; yield to this base discouragement? shall J discourage others (like those spies of Canaan) by mine example? Hence it is that Heb. 11. In that notable Chapter, That little book of martyrs, after the catalogue of those worthies set down there, that which we are exhorted and pointed to in the beginning of the next chapter, is unto the practise of the like virtues, In imitation having before us, such a Cloud of witnesses,8