A12167:909
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.
So also,1 We may see here the desperate and base f•lly of all whatsoever (save true Christians) what do they make choice of to join to,2 that which is base, the condemned world, vain transitory things, and refuse Christ•? Are they in their right wits who refuse a Husband that is noble for birth,3 rich for estate, mighty for power, abundant in kindness and love it self, every way excellent? and take a base, ignoble, beggarly person? this is the choice of the world.4 God complains Israel would none of me, &c. What shall we judge therefore of those that will none of Christ when he woes and sues them, but prefer with Esau a mess of portage before their eternal birthright, with Adam an apple before Paradise, and with Judas thirty pieces of silver before Christ himself, this is the state of many men. To be married to Christ is to take him for an husband,5 to be ruled by him in all things. Now when we prefer base commodities and contentments before peace of conscience and the enjoying of his love; what is it, but for pelf and commodity, thirty pieces of silver (perhaps for six pence ⟨p. 360⟩a thing of nothing) to refuse Christ, yet this is the condition of base worldlings that live by sense and not by faith. So then as it serves to comfort those that have made a true choice, so it serves to show the madness and folly of all others, which one day will feel their hearts full of horror and confusion, and their faces of shame, when they shall think, what hath Christ made such suit to my heart to win my love? hath he ordained a ministry for to bring me in? made such large promises, is he so excellent? and was this discovered to me and yet would I none of him? what did I choose, and what did I leave? I left Christ with all his riches, and made choice of the pleasures and profits of sin,