A12167:651
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.
Affection makes eloquent and large expressions,
But mainly observe from this •ay ling of the Church.1 The difference between the true children of God and others. The child of God is cast down when he finds not the presence of God as he was wo••t, his spirits fail? A carnal man that never knew what this presence meant, regards it not, can abide the want of it, he finds indeed a presence of God in the creature which he thinks not of, there is a sweetness in Meat, drink, rest, and a contentment in honour, preferment, and riches; And thus God is present always with him. But ⟨p. 278⟩other presence he cares not for. Nay, he shuns all other presence of God, labouring to avoid his spiritual presence. For what is the reason that a carnal man shuns the applying of the word and the thinking of it, but because it brings God near to his heart, and makes him present. What is the reason he shuns his own conscience: that he is loath to hear the just and unanswerable accusations that it would charge upon him? but because he cannot abide the presence of God in his conscience. What is the reason he shuns the sight of holier and better men than himself? they present God to him being his image,2 and call his sins to memory, and upbraid his wicked life. Hence comes that satanical hatred more then humane in carnal vil emen, to those that are better then themselves: because they hate all presence of God: both in the word, ministry, and all Gods holy servants; all such presence of God they hate, whereof one main reason is, because they are malefactors, wicked rebels, and intend to be so. And as a malefactor cannot endure so much as the thought of the judge, so they cannot think of God otherwise (in that course they are in) then of a judge, whereupon they tremble and quake at the very thought of him, and avoid his presence.