A12167:1120
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 when is the time that he comes,1 compare this with the former Chapter, he comes after long waiting for him, the Church waited for him, and waited in the use of all means, she runs to the Watchmen, and then enquires after him of the daughters of Jerusalem, after this she finds him. After we have waited and expected Christ in the use of means, Christ at length will ⟨p. 453⟩discover himself to us, and yet more immediately it was after the Church had so deservedly exalted him in such lofty praises, This is my Beloved, the chief of ten thousand, he is altogether lovely: When we set our hearts to the high exaltation of Christ above all things in the world, proclaiming him the chief of ten thousand, this at the last breeds a gracious discovery, I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine, for Christ when he sees us faithful and so loving that we will not endure his absence, and so constantly loving, that we love him notwithstanding so•e discouragements, it melts him at the last as, Joseph was melted by his brethren.
But when is the time that he comes,1 compare this with the former Chapter, he comes after long waiting for him, the Church waited for him, and waited in the use of all meanes, she runs to the Watchmen, and then enquires after him of the daughters of Ierusalem, after this she finds him. After we have waited and expected Christ in the use of meanes, Christ at length will ⟨p. 453⟩discover himselfe to us, and yet more immediately it was after the Church had so deservedly exalted him in such lofty praises, This is my Beloved, the chiefe of tenne thousand, he is altogether lovely: When we set our hearts to the high exaltation of Christ above all things in the world, proclaiming him the chi•fe of tenne thousand, this at the last breeds a gratious discovery, I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine, for Christ when he sees us faithfull and so loving that we will not endure his absence, and so constantly loving, that we love him notwithstanding soe discouragements, it melts him at the last as, Ioseph was melted by his brethren.