A12167:1027
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.
BY this time the Church hath well quit her self in that safe subject, commending her beloved, first in general, and then in particular; she affirms (in effect) there ⟨p. 412⟩was none like him in general, which she after makes good in all the particulars of her description, now she sums up all with a kind of superabundant expression. What shall I say more of him? if that which is said be not enough, then know farther, he is altogether lovely, there were no end to go through all his perfections, but look on him wholly, he is altogether lovely, and therefore deserves my love, so that there is no cause why you should wonder at the strength of my affections and care to find out this my Beloved and this my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem. Thus we see how the pitch of an enlightened soul is bent, it aspires to things suitable to its self, to Godwards▪ to union and communion with Christ, to supernatural objects, nothing here below is worthy the name of its beloved. It fastens not on earthly base things, but this is my beloved, and this is my friend, this so excellent a person, this Jedidiah, this beloved son, this judge of all, Lord of all, this chief of ten thousand, here the Church pitches her affections which she conceals not as ashamed thereof, but in a kind of triumphing, boasting of her choice, she concludes all with a kind of resolute assurance, that the object of this her choice is far beyond all comparison.
BY this time the Church hath well quit her selfe in that safe subject, commending her beloved, first in generall, and then in particular; she affirmes (in effect) there ⟨p. 412⟩was none like him in generall, which she after makes good in all the particulars of her description, now she summes up all with a kinde of superaboundant expression. What shall I say more of him? if that which is said be not enough, then know farther, he is altogether lovely, there were no end to goe through all his perfections, but looke on him wholly, he is altogether lovely, and therefore deserves my love, so that there is no cause why you should wonder at the strength of my affections and care to finde out this my Beloved and this my friend, O ye daughters of Hierusalem. Thus we see how the pitch of an inlightned soule is bent, it aspires to things suteable to its selfe, to Godwards▪ to union and communion with Christ, to supernaturall objects, nothing here below is worthy the name of its beloved. It fastens not on earthly base things, but this is my beloved, and this is my friend, this so excellent a person, this Iedidiah, this beloved sonne, this judge of all, Lord of all, this chiefe of ten thousand, here the Church pitches her affections which she conceales not as ashamed thereof, but in a kinde of triumphing, boasting of her choice, she concludes all with a kinde of resolute assurance, that the object of this her choice is farre beyond all comparison.