A12167:663
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.
It is good to observe this kind of Christs dealing, because it will keep us that we be not discouraged when we find him absent. If still there be any grace left moving us to that which is good, if we find the Spirit of God moving us to love the word and ordinances, to call upon him by prayer and to be more instant, certainly we may gather there is a hidden, secret presence here that draws us to these things. Nay more that the end of this seeming forsaking and strangeness is to draw us nearer and nearer, and at length to draw us into heaven to himself. Gods people are gainers by all their losses, […] by all their weaknesses, and the better for all their crosses whatsoever they are. And you sh•ll find that the Spirit of God is more […] in them after a strangeness, to […] eagerly after Christ ⟨p. 283⟩then before; as here the Church doth for her eagerness, constancy and instantness it groweth as Christs withdrawing of himself groweth.
It is good to observe this kind of Christs dealing, because it will keepe us that we be not discouraged when we find him absent. If still there be any grace left mooving us to that which is good, if we find the Spirit of God moving us to love the word and ordinances, to call upon him by prayer and to be more instant, certainely we may gather there is a hidden, secret presence here that drawes us to these things. Nay more that the end of this seeming farsaking and str•ng•nesse is to draw us neerer and neerer, and at length to draw us into heaven to himselfe. Gods people are gainers by all their losses, 〈…〉 by all their weakenesses, and the better for all their crosses whatsoever they are. And you sh•ll find that the Spirit of God is more 〈…〉 in them after a strangenesse, to 〈…〉 eagerly after Christ ⟨p. 283⟩then before; as here the Church doth for her eagernesse, constancie and instantnesse it groweth as Christs withdrawing of himselfe groweth.