A12167:750
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 12 › They took away my veil.Sermon 12 › They tooke away my vaile.
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.
And indeed,1 It is the nature of true Grace to grow up with difficulties, as the Ark rose higher with the waters, so likewise the •oule grows higher and higher, it mounts up as discouragements and oppositions grow: Nay the soul takes vigour and strength from discouragements, as the wind increaseth the flame. So the Grace of God, the more the winds and waves of affliction oppose it, with so much the more violence, it breaks through all oppositions, ⟨p. 304⟩until it attain the desired hope.
And indeed,1 It is the nature of true Grace to grow up with difficulties, as the Arke rose higher with the waters, so likewise the •oule growes higher and higher, it mounts up as discouragements and oppositions grow: Nay the soule takes vigour and strength from discouragements, as the wind increaseth the flame. So the Grace of God, the more the winds and waves of affliction oppose it, with so much the more violence, it breakes through all oppositions, ⟨p. 304⟩untill it attaine the desired hope.
- 1The Nature of true Grace.
To apply it,1 Those therefore that are soon discouraged, that pull in their homes presently, it is a sign they are very cold, and have but little grace, for where there is any strength of holy affection, they will not be discouraged, nor their zeal be quenched, and damped. Therefore they subordinate Religion to their own ends, as your temporary believers. Where is any love to Christ, the love of Christ is of a violent nature, it sways in the heart, as the Apostle speaks,