A12167:840
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.
First of all observe, that these of the Church here were stirred up by the examples of other members of the Church to be in quisitive after Christ, so to be satisfied, Hence observe, That there is a wondrous force in the examples of Christians to stir up one another. 1We see here when the Church was sick of love, the other part of ⟨p. 329⟩the members began to think, what is the reason the Church is so earnest to seek after Christ, there is some excellency sure in him; for, wise men do not use great motions in little matters, great things are carried with great movings; we use not to stir up tragedies for trifles, to make mountains of molehills, the endeavours and carriages of great persons that be wise, judicious and holy are answerable to the nature of things. And indeed the Church judgeth aright in this, then see the force of good example, any man that hath his wits about him, when he sees others serious, earnest and careful about a thing whereof for the present he can see no reason (especially if they have parts equal, or superior to himself) will reason thus presently.
First of all observe, that these of the Church here were stirred up by the examples of other members of the Church to be in quisitive after Christ, so to be satisfied, Hence observe, That there is a wondrous force in the examples of Christians to stir up one another. 1We see here when the Church was sicke of love, the other part of ⟨p. 329⟩the members began to thinke, what is the reason the Church is so earnest to seeke after Christ, there is some excellency sure in him; for, wise men doe not use great motions in little matters, great things are carried with great moovings; we use not to stirre up tragedies for trifles, to make mountaines of molehills, the indeavours and carriages of great persons that be wise, judicious and holy are answerable to the nature of things. And indeed the Church judgeth aright in this, then see the force of good example, any man that hath his wits about him, when he sees others serious, earnest and carefull about a thing whereof for the present he can see no reason (especially if they have parts equall, or superior to himselfe) will reason thus presently.