A12167:580
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.
This serves likewise To wean us from the §4world,1 in the plenty and abundance of all earthly things; For take a Christian that hath no cross in the world, let him find some estrangement of Christ from his spirit, that he finds not the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and that enlargement which in former times he enjoyed, and all the wealth he hath, the earthly contentments he enjoys please him not, nor can content that soul, which hath ever felt sweet communion with Christ. Again, how should we pray with earnestness of affection, Thy Kingdom come (in the time of prosperity,) except there were somewhat in this kind to raise up the soul to desire to be gone? Now it is our subjection to these alterations, and changes, ebbings, and flowings, sometimes to have the sense of Gods love in Christ, and sometimes to want it, sometimes to feel his love, and sometimes again the fruits of his anger and displeasure, which serves exceedingly to stir up mens desires of Heaven.
This serves likewise To weane us from the §4world,1 in the plenty and abundance of all earthly things; For take a Christian that hath no crosse in the world, let him find some estrangement of Christ from his spirit, that he finds not the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and that inlargement which in former times he enjoyed, and all the wealth hee hath, the earthly contentments he enjoyes please him not, nor can content that soule, which hath ever felt sweet communion with Christ. Againe, how should we pray with earnestnesse of affection, Thy Kingdome come (in the time of prosperity,) except there were somewhat in this kind to raise up the soule to desire to be gone? Now it is our subjection to these alterations, and changes, ebbings, and flowings, sometimes to have the sence of Gods love in Christ, and sometimes to want it, sometimes to feele his love, and sometimes againe the fruits of his anger and displeasure, which serves exceedingly to stirre up mens desires of Heaven.
- 1To wean us from the world.To weane us from the world.