A12167:119
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.
And then again, God hears our Prayers, Because §2he looks upon us as we are in election, and choice of God the Father, who hath given us to him. Not only as in the near bond of marriage, husband and wife, but also as he hath given us to Christ: which is his plea unto the Father, Joh. 17. 6. Thine they were, thou gavest them me, &c. The desires of the Church please him, because they are stirred up by his Spirit, and proceed from her that is his: whose voice he delights to hear, and the prayers of others for his Church are accepted, because they are for her that is his Beloved.
And then againe, God heares our Prayers, Because §2he lookes upon us as we are in election, and choice of God the Father, who hath given us to him. Not onely as in the neare bond of marriage, husband and wife, but also as he hath given us to Christ: which is his plea unto the Father, Ioh. 17. 6. Thine they were, thou gavest them me, &c. The desires of the Church please him, because they are stirred up by his Spirit, and proceed from her that is his: whose voice he delights to heare, and the prayers of others for his Church are accepted, because they are for her that is his Beloved.
To confirm this further, see Isa. 58. 9. Thou then shalt cry, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt call, and presently he shall say, Here I am, &c. so as soon as Daniel had ended that excellent prayer, the Angel telleth him, At the beginning of thy supplications the decree came forth, &c. So because he knows what to put into our hearts,1 he knows our desires and thoughts. And therefore accepts of our prayers and hears us; because he loves the voice of his own Spirit in us. So it is said, He fulfils the desires of them that fear him; and