A12167:910
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.
therefore there is no condition in the world so terrible as of those that live in the Church, and he are those things of Christ crucified unfolded to them before their eyes, as Paul speaks of the ministry,1 it makes Christs cross so open to them as if he had been crucified before their eyes, yet notwithstanding yield to their base hearts desires and affections before these excellencies, which if they had a spirit of faith would draw their hearts to him.
therefore there is no condition in the world so terrible as of those that live in the Church, and he are those things of Christ crucified unfolded to them before their eyes, as Paul speakes of the ministery,1 it makes Christs crosse so open to them as if he had beene crucified before their eyes, yet notwithstanding yeeld to their base hearts desires and affections before these excellencies, which if they had a spirit of faith would draw their hearts to him.
- 1Gal. 3.
Therefore let us consider how we hear those things,1 it concerns us nearly: on the one side ⟨p. 361⟩we see what we get if we join with Christ, we have him and his: on the contrary we loose him; and not only so, but we gain eternal misery, and perish eternally. O what baseness of mind possesseth us, Christ left all things in love to us, and we leave Christ for any paltry thing in the world, almost to please and content the humours of sinful men, to attain a few empty titles, to get a little wealth, enjoy a little pleasure. You see then the equity of that terrible commination that you have,