A12167:868
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 14: THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.Sermon 14: THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON.
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.
Here is a Question, and a Question answered with a Question: Questions they breed knowledge (as the Greek Proverb is) doubtings breed resolution. Whereupon the inquisitive ⟨p. 342⟩soul (usually) proves the most learned, judicious and wise soul, therefore that great Philosopher counted it as a virtue amongst his scholars, that they would be inquisitive. So the scholars of Righteousness are inquisitive, they inquire the way to Canaan, 1and the way to Zion with their faces thitherwards.
Here is a Question, and a Question answered with a Question: Questions they breed knowledge (as the Greeke Proverbe is) doubtings breed resolution. Whereupon the inquisitive ⟨p. 342⟩soule (usually) prooves the most learned, judicious and wise soule, therefore that great Philosopher counted it as a vertue amongst his schollers, that they would be inquisitive. So the schollers of Righteousnesse are inquisitive, they inquire the way to Canaan, 1and the way to Zion with their faces thitherwards.
It is a special part of Christians wisdom to improve the excellency of others by Questions,1 to have a bucket to draw out of the deep wells of others (as Solomon saith) the heart of a wise man is as deep waters, but a man of understanding can tell how to fetch those waters out: There be many men of deep and excellent parts which are lost in the world, because men know not how to improve them. Therefore it is good while we have men excellent in any kind, to make use of them. It is an honour to God as well as a commodity to our selves. Doth God suffer lights to shine in the world that we should take no notice of them, It is a wrong to our selves and a dishonour to God.