A12167:66
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.
If then the Church be a severed portion, then,1 We should walk as men of a severed condition from the world, not as men of the world, but as Christians, to make good that we are so, by feeling the graces of Gods Spirit in some comfortable measure, that so Christ may have something in us, that he may delight to dwell with us, so to be subject to his pruning and dressing. For, It is so far from being an ill sign, that Christ is at cost with us, in following us with afflictions, that it is rather a sure sign of his love. For, the care of this blessed Husbandman is to prune us so, as to make us fruitful. Men care not for heath and wilderness whereupon they bestow no cost. So when God prunes us by crosses and afflictions, and sows good seed in us, it is a sign, he means to dwell with us, and delight in us.
If then the Church be a severed portion, then,1 We should walke as men of a severed condition from the world, not as men of the world, but as Christians, to make good that we are so, by feeling the graces of Gods Spirit in some comfortable measure, that so Christ may have somthing in us, that he may delight to dwell with us, so to be subject to his pruning and dressing. For, It is so far from being an ill signe, that Christ is at cost with us, in following us with afflictions, that it is rather a sure signe of his love. For, the care of this blessed Husbandman is to prune us so, as to make us fruitfull. Men care not for heath and wildernesse whereupon they bestow no cost. So when God prunes us by crosses and afflictions, and sowes good seed in us, it is a signe, he meanes to dwell with us, and delight in us.
- 1Use 1.Vse 1.
And then also, we should not strive so much §2