A12167:599
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.
The third thing observable from hence is this: That Gods Graces are sweet.
The third thing observeable from hence is this: That Gods Graces are sweet.
Pleasant and sweet,1 compared here to myrrh which was an ingredient in the holy oil, grace makes us sweet, prayers are sweet, as it is Rev. 8. 4. Christ mingleth them with his own sweet odours, and so takes and offers them to God. Holy Obedience is sweet and delightful to God and to the conscience, it brings peace and delight to others, therefore they are called fruits; fruit doth not only imply and show the issuing of good things from the root. ⟨p. 256⟩[…] ⟨p. 257⟩[…] ⟨p. 258⟩but there is also a pleasantness in it, so there is a delightfulness in good works as there is in fruit to the taste: Therefore if we would be sweet and delightful to God, let us labour to have grace. It we would think of our selves with contentment, and have inward sweetness, Let us labour for the graces of Gods Spirit, these are like myrrh.2 The wicked are an abomination unto the Lord, who abhors them and whatsoever is in them. But, the righteous and sincere man is his delight. Therefore if we would approve our selves to God, and feel that he hath delight in us; labour to be such as he may delight in.
Pleasant and sweet,1