A12167:1037
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.
In the fifth place another end of this may be ⟨p. 415⟩to aggravate her own shame, as indeed Gods children are much in this argument, that upon their second thoughts of Christs worthiness and therewithal reflecting upon their own unworthiness and unkindness they may relish Christ the better. Therefore the Church here that it might appear to her self for her humiliation how unkind she had been to shut the door against Christ when he knocked, whereupon he deservedly did withdraw himself and made her seek him so long sorrowing, I tell you says she what a kind of beloved he is, thus and thus excellent. How did the consideration of Gods kindness and love melt Davids heart after that horrible sin in the matter of uriah, and the sweet looks of Christ upon Peter, that had been so unkind, melted him. So here the Church when she considered how unkind she had been to Christ her beloved, so incomparably excellent above other beloveds, to let him stand at the door, till his locks were wet with the Dew of the night. The consideration hereof made her ashamed of her self, what so excellent, so deserving a person as my beloved is to me, to be used of me so? what indignity is this? Thus to raise up the aggravation of her unkindness, no question but the Church takes this course: for Gods children are not as untoward worldlings and hypocrites afraid to search and to understand themselves, the child of God loves to be well read in his own heart and unworthy ways, ⟨p. 416⟩therefore he lays all the blame he can upon himself every way, he knows he looseth nothing by this, for there is more mercy in Christ then there is sin in him, and the more sin abounds in his own feeling, the more grace shall abound, he knows the mystery of Gods carriage in this kind. Therefore for this end (amongst the rest) she says, this is my beloved, and this is my friend, whom I have so unkindly used.
In the fift place another end of this may be ⟨p. 415⟩to aggravate her owne shame, as indeed Gods children are much in this argument, that upon their second thoughts of Christs worthinesse and therewithall reflecting upon their owne unworthinesse and unkindnesse they may relish Christ the better. Therefore the Church here that it might appeare to her selfe for her humiliation how unkind she had beene to shut the doore against Christ when he knocked, whereupon he deservedly did withdraw himselfe and made her seeke him so long sorrowing, I tell you sayes she what a kinde of beloved he is, thus and thus excellent. How did the consideration of Gods kindnesse and love melt Davids heart after that horrible sinne in the matter of vriah, and the sweet lookes of Christ upon Peter, that had beene so unkind, melted him. So here the Church when she considered how unkindc she had beene to Christ her beloved, so incomparably excellent above other beloveds, to let him stand at the doore, till his locks were wet with the Dew of the night. The consideration hereof made her ashamed of her selfe, what so excellent, so deserving a person as my beloved is to me, to be used of me so? what indignity is this? Thus to raise up the aggravation of her unkindnesse, no question but the Church takes this course: for Gods children are not as untoward worldlings and hypocrits afraid to search and to understand themselves, the child of God loves to be well read in his owne heart and unworthy waies,