A12167:648
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 10 › My soul failed when he spake.Sermon 10 › My soule failed when hee spake.
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.
Nay, Moreover when they find not that §3former assistance in holy duties,1 when they find that their hearts are shut up and they cannot pray as formerly when they had the Spirit of God more fully, and when they find that they cannot bear afflictions with wonted patience; certainly Christ hath withdrawn himself; (say they) This is first done when we hear the word of God not with that delight and profit as we were wont, when they find how they come near to God in holy communion and yet feel not that sweet taste and relish in the ordinances of God as they were wont to do; they conclude certainly God hath hid his face, whereupon they are cast down, their spirits fail. And do not wonder that it should be so, for it is so in nature; when the Sun hides it self many days from the world it is an uncomfortable time, the spirits of the creatures lower and wither, we see it so in the body, that the animal spirits in the brain (which are the cause of motion and sense) if they be obstructed there follows an Apoplexy and deadness. So it is between Christ and the soul, he is the Sun of Righteousness, 2by whose beams we are all comforted and cheered, which when they are withheld then our spirits decay and are discouraged. Summer and Winter arise from the presence and absence of the sun: what causeth the Spring to be so ⟨p. 277⟩clothed withal those rich ornaments? the presence of the sun which comes nearer then. So what makes the summer and winter in the soul but the absence or presence of Christ, what makes some so vigorous beyond others, but the presence of the Spirit? As it is in nature, so it is here, the presence of Christ is the cause of all spiritual life and vigour; who when he withdraws his presence a little the soul fails.
Nay, Moreover when they find not that §3former assistance in holy dutyes,1 when they find that their hearts are shut up and they cannot pray as formerly when they had the Spirit of God more fully, and when they find that they cannot beare afflictions with wonted patience; certainely Christ hath withdrawne himselfe; (say they) This is first done when we heare the word of God not with that delight and profit as we were wont, when they find how they come neere to God in holy communion and yet feele not that sweet tast and relish in the ordinances of God as they were wont to doe; they conclude certainely God hath hid his face, whereupon they are cast downe, their spirits fayle. And doe not wonder that it should be so, for it is so in nature; when the Sunne hides it selfe many dayes from the world it is an uncomfortable time, the spirits of the creatures lower and wither, we see it so in the body, that the animall spirits in the braine (which are the cause of motion and sence) if they be obstructed there followes an Apoplexie and deadnesse. So it is betweene Christ and the soule, he is the Sunne of Righteousnesse,