A12167:1003
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.
But you will say, was he lovely when he was nailed on the cross,1 hung between two thieves, when he wor• a crown of thorns, was whipped, laid grovelling on the ground, when he sweat water and blood, what loveliness was in him when he was laid in his grave.
But you will say, was he lovely when hee was nailed on the crosse,1 hung betweene two theeves, when he wor• a crowne of thornes, was whipped, laid groveling on the ground, when he sweat water and bloud, what lovelinesse was in him when he was laid in his grave.
- 1Object.
Oh yes then he was most lovely of all to us,1 By how much the more he was abased for us, this makes him more lovely, that out of love he would abase himself so low, when greatness and goodness meet together how goodly is it. That Christ so great a Majesty should have such bowels of compassion. Majesty alone is not lovely, but awful and fearful, but joined with such condescending grace is wondrous amiable. How lovely a •ight is it to see so great a person to be so meek and gentle: it was so beyond comparison lovely in the eyes of the Disciples that they stood and wondered to see him who was ⟨p. 398⟩the eternal word of the Father condescend to talk with a poor Samaritan woman, and what loveliness of carriage was in him to Peter undeserving after he had denied and forsworn him, yet to restore him to his former place that he had in his heart, loving him as much as ever he did before. In a word, what sweetness, gentleness, bowels of meekness, pity and compassion did he discover to those that were in misery, we cannot insist upon particulars.