A12167:606
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 make this use of it therefore, not to rest in any means whatsoever,1 but desire the presence of Christs finger to moov•, and to work upon our hearts and souls; Many careless Christians go about the ordinances of God, and never regard this power of Christ, this mighty power, the finger of Christ. Thereupon they find nothing at all that is divine and spiritual wrought in them. For as it required a God to redeem us, to take our nature, wherein he might restore us; so likewise it requires the power of God to alter our natures. We could not be brought into the state of grace without Divine satisfaction, and we cannot be altered to a frame of grace without a Divine finger, the finger of God working upon our hearts and souls. This should move us in all the ordinances of God that we attend upon, to lift up our hearts in the midst of them: Lord, let me feel the finger of thy Spirit writing thy word upon my heart. Turn us O Lord, and we shall be turned. Pray for this quickening, and in livening; for this strengthening Spirit: all comes by it. 2. From this that it is said here, That Christ puts his finger into the hole of the door before he removed it and withdrew himself, Observe.
Let us make this use of it therefore, not to rest in any meanes whatsoever,1 but desire the presence of Christs finger to moov•, and to worke upon our hearts and soules; Many carelesse Christians goe about the ordinances of God, and never regard this power of Christ, this mighty power, the finger of Christ. Thereupon they find nothing at all that is divine and spirituall wrought in them. For as it required a God to redeeme us, to take our nature, wherein he might restore us; so likewise it requires the power of God to alter our natures. We could not be brought into the state of grace without Divine satisfaction, and we cannot be altered to a frame of grace without a Divine finger, the finger of God working upon our hearts and soules. This should moove us in all the ordinances of God that we attend upon, to lift up our hearts in the midst of them: Lord, let me feele the finger of thy Spirit writing thy word upon my heart. Turne us O Lord, and wee shall be turned. Pray for this quickning, and in livening; for this strengthening Spirit: all comes by it. 2. From this that it is said here, That Christ puts his finger into the hole of the doore before hee remooved it and withdrew himselfe, Observe.