A12167:590
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.
If Christ should take away the comforts that we enjoy,1 and remove himself; and his dwelling from us, (for he is now yet among us and knocks at our doors,) do we not give him just cause to depart? what a spirit of slumber possesseth us, which will be awaked with nothing to seek after Christ? how few lay hold upon God, press upon him, wrestle with him by prayer? to hide themselves before the evil day come, as they should do. Therefore if Christ have absented himself a long time from the Church in general, and withdrawn the comfort and presence of his ordinances and in particular withheld the sweet comforts of our spirits, and our peace, so that we see him in the contrary signs of his displeasure and ⟨p. 254⟩anger, as if he did not regard and respect us, we have given him just cause so to do. We see here how the Church used Christ and so do we with the like security, and a spirit of slumber, with unkindness, notwithstanding all the provocations that Christ useth to win us; he leaves us not, until he be left first, for he desires to have nearer acquaintance, communion and fellowship with the soul; as we have seen in the former verse, My love, my dove, my undefiled, Open to me, &c. Therefore if we do not enjoy more acquaintance with Christ then we do, and walk more in the comforts of the Holy Ghost;2 it is merely from our own indisposition and security. Therefore let us censure our selves in this kind,3 and not call Christ an enemy, as if he had forgotten, and God had forsaken. Take heed of such a spirit of murmuring, If such a state befall us, let us labour to lay our hand upon our mouth, and to justify Christ. It is just with thee thus to leave me, to give me over to this terror, to deal thus with me, that have dealt so unkindly with thee; so to justify God, and accuse our selves, is the best way to recover spiritual comfort.
If Christ should take away the comforts that we enjoy,1 and remoove himselfe; and his dwelling from us, (for he is now yet among us and knocks at our doores,) doe we not give him just cause to depart? what a spirit of slumber possesseth us, which will be awaked with nothing to seeke after Christ? how few lay hould upon God, presse upon him, wrestle with him by prayer? to hide themselves before the evill day come, as they should doe. Therefore if Christ have absented himselfe a long time from the Church in generall, and withdrawne the comfort and presence of his ordinances and in particular withheld the sweet comforts of our spirits, and our peace, so that we see him in the contrary signes of his displeasure and