A12167:687
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 11 › I called but he gave no answer &c.Sermon 11 › I called but hee gave no answer &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.
4. Again when we are in such a seeming forlorn estate, Let us have recourse to former experience. What is the reason that God vouchsafes his children for the most part in the beginning of their conversion (in their first love) experience of his love to ravishment? It is, that afterwards they may have recourse to that love of God then felt to support themselves, and withal to stir up endeavours, and hope; that finding it not so well with them now as formerly it hath bin,1 by comparing state with state, desires may be stirred up to be as they were or rather better.
4. Againe when wee are in such a seeming forlorne estate, Let us have recourse to former experience. What is the reason that God vouchsafes his children for the most part in the beginning of their conversion (in their first love) experience of his love to ravishment? Jt is, that afterwards they may have recourse to that love of God then felt to support themselves, and withall to stirre up endeavours, and hope; that finding it not so well with them now as formerly it hath binn,1 by comparing state with state, desires may bee stirred up to bee as they were or rather better.
- 1Hose. 2▪ 7
And as the remembrance of former experiences serve to excite endeavour, so to stir up Hope. I hope it shall be as it was, because God is Immutable. I change but Christ alters not, the inferior elementary world changes, here is fair weather and foul, but the Sun keeps his perpetual course; and as in the gloomiest day that ever was there was light enough to make it day and to distinguish it from night, (though the Sun did not shine) So in the most disconsolate state of a Christian soul, there is light enough in the soul to show that the Sun ⟨p. 290⟩