A12167:541
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.
Likewise be sure to carry this in mind,1 That sin is the greatest evil, and grace and goodness the best thing in the world. Therefore, there is no excuse for sin, from any thing in the world, for it is the worst thing in the world, which stains the soul, and hinders it from comfort. And for grace and goodness in the inward man, it is the best thing in the world, therefore, purchase this, though with disadvantage. It is best to avoid sin, though with enduring evil; yea to avoid the least sin, by enduring the greatest evil. It is wisdom to do good with disadvantage, when the disadvantage ⟨p. 237⟩is bounded only in this life, the thing that I do, being a thing which furthers my reckoning at the day of account. Therefore, have this alway in consideration, whatsoever I suffer in this world, I will not sin, this will cut off a world of excuses.
Likewise be sure to carry this in minde,1 That sinne is the greatest evill, and grace and goodnesse the best thing in the world. Therefore, there is no excuse for sinne, from any thing in the world, for it is the worst thing in the world, which staines the soule, and hinders it from comfort. And for grace and goodnesse in the inward man, it is the best thing in the world, therefore, purchase this, though with disadvantage. It is best to avoyde sinne, though with enduring evill; yea to avoide the least sinne, by enduring the greatest evill. It is wisedome to doe good with disadvantage, when the disadvantage ⟨p. 237⟩is bounded onely in this life, the thing that I doe, beeing a thing which furthers my reckning at the day of account. Therefore, have this alway in consideration, whatsoever I suffer in this world, I will not sinne, this will cut off a world of excuses.
- 1To be persuaded that sin is the greatest evil, and grace the greatest good in the world.To bee perswaded that sinne is the greatest evill, and grace the greatest good in the world.