A12167:532
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 further,1 Let us be able by sound reasons to justify the ways of God, and […] answer cavils, to give account of what we do to our selves and others, With reasons why we sanctify the Sabbath, have such Communion with God in Prayer, Neglect the fashions of the world, &c. To have reasons ready from Scripture, is an excellent thing, when we are able to justify whatsoever we do by the Word, against all the quarrels of our own hearts and others. When we are led to do things only b• the example of others, or by respects, then we are oft times put to it on the sudden by temptations: being not able to justify what we do. Let us labour ⟨p. 227⟩therefore to do things upon good grounds, and be able to justify al• the ways of Religion, as they are easily justified, for nothing in this world stands with so much reason, as exactness in the ways of God, There is so much Reason for nothing in the world, as to be not only Christians, but exact Christians, as Paul •aith to Agrippa,2 would to God you were not almost, but altogether as I am, saving these bonds. To make conscience of all ways and courses, it stands with the most reason of the world, so to justify Religion by reasons unanswerable, that may set down corrupt nature, and stop the mouth of the devil himself: and herein let us propound found and strong Questions to our selves3 often; are those things (that I am moved to do) good? or are they not? If they be good, why do I not do them? If they be bad, why do I do them at all? If they be good, why do I stick at them? how do I prove them to be good? have alway ready some Scripture, or reason from thence which is as good. The reasons of the word are most divinely strong, let them be ready against all Objections whatsoever, 4as against sleight oaths think of that of Christ, that we must give an account for all idle words: how much more for Atheistical oaths: so against grosser sins learn reason; a civill man, an Heathen would not do thus.