A12167:873
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.
Let us labour therefore to be such as may bring honour and credit to Religion,1 and make it lovely, that what we do may make others think we do what we do to great purpose: which is oft times a special means and occasion of their conversion. Though properly the cause of conversion be the Spirit of God in the ordinances: yet the inducement (many times) and occasion, is the observation of the course and carriage of those that excel and are known to be eminent in parts and in graces, Emulation ads spurs to to the soul. Do they take such courses that are wiser then I, and shall not I take the like course too? Paul saith,2 the emulation of the Gentiles shall be a means of the conversion of the Jews, when they shall see them embrace Christ, they will be encouraged to do so also: what shall we think therefore of them that live so as that they bring an evil report, scandal and reproach upon Religion? Great and fearful is their wickedness, that by their ill conversation like Hophny and Phinehas discredit the ordinances of the Lord.3
Let us labour therefore to be such as may bring honour and credit to Religion,1 and make it lovely, that what we doe may make others thinke we doe what we doe to great purpose: which is oft times a speciall meanes and occasion of their conversion. Though properly the cause of conversion be the Spirit of God in the ordinances: yet the inducement (many times) and occasion, is the observation of the course and carriage of those that excell and are knowne to be eminent in parts and in graces, Emulation ads spurrs to to the soule. Doe they take such courses that are wiser then I, and shall not I take the like course too? Paul saith,2 the emulation of the Gentiles shall be a meanes of the conversion of the Iewes, when they shall see them imbrace Christ, they will be incouraged to doe so also: what shall we thinke therefore of them that live so as that they bring an evill report, scandall and reproach upon Religion? Great and fearfull is their wickednesse, that by their ill conversation like Hophny and Phineas discredit the ordinances of the Lord.