A12167:622
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
Sermon 9 › My bowels were moved in me, &c.Sermon 9 › My bowels were mooved in mee, &c.
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.
He hath our bowels in his rule and government, more then we our selves have. We cannot of our selves rule our grief, shame, sorrow, or such affections as these, The wisest man in the world cannot award grief, and sorrow, when God will turn it upon his bowels, and make a man ashamed and confounded in himself. All the wit and policy in the world cannot suppress those affections. For Christ rules our hearts. The heares of Kings are in his hand,1 as the rivers of water, as well ⟨p. 267⟩as the hearts of ordinary persons.
He hath our bowels in his rule and governement, more then we our selves have. Wee cannot of our selves rule our griefe, shame, sorrow, or such affections as these, The wisest man in the world cannot award griefe, and sorrow, when God will turne it upon his bowells, and make a man ashamed and confounded in himselfe. All the wit and pollicy in the world cannot suppresse those affections. For Christ rules our hearts. The heares of Kings are in his hand,1 as the rivers of water, as well ⟨p. 267⟩as the hearts of ordinary persons.
If he set any thing upon the soul to afflict it and cast it down, it shall afflict it, if it be but a conceit, if he will take away the reins from the soul, and leave it to its own passion, removing away its guard, (for he by his Spirit guards our souls with peace, by commanding of tranquillity;) So as let him but leave it to its self, and it will tear it self in sunder,1