A12167:585
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.
Let us not therefore censure any Christian,1 when we find that their course hath been good,2 and gracious, yet notwithstanding they seem to want comfort, let us not wonder at them, as if God had utterly forsaken them, indeed sometimes they think themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, that God regards them not, They are people of no respect either to God or to others, as you have the Church in the Psalms complaining,3 as if God had forsaken them, so they think themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, and neglects them. Therefore in so doing we shall censure the generation of the Righteous. It was thus with the Head of the Church, with the whole Church, and with every particular member; neither is it fit we should always enjoy the sense of Gods love. Christ by heavenly wisdom dispenseth of his sweetness, comforts and peace, as may stand with our souls best good, and we should as much take heed of censuring our selves in that condition, as if we were rejected and cast away of God. We must judge our selves at such time by Faith, and not by feeling; looking to the promises and Word of God, and not to our present sense and apprehension.4
Let us not therefore censure any Christian,1 when we find that their course hath beene good,2 and gratious, yet notwithstanding they seeme to want comfort, let us not wonder at them, as if God had utterly forsaken them, indeed sometimes they thinke themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, that God regards them not, They are people of no respect either to God or to others, as you have the Church in the Psalmes complaining,3 as if God had forsaken them, so they thinke themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, and neglects them. Therefore in so dooing we shall censure the generation of the Righteous. It was thus with the Head of the Church, with the whole Church, and with every particular member; neither is it fit wee should alwayes enjoy the sence of Gods love. Christ by heavenly wisedome dispenseth of his sweetenesse, comforts and peace, as may stand with our soules best good, and wee should as much take heed of censuring our selves in that condition, as if we were rejected and cast away of God. Wee must judge our selves at such time by Faith, and not by feeling; looking to the promises and Word of God, and not to our present sense and apprehnsion.