A12167:134
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.
Christ vouchsafes his gracious Presence to his Children,1 upon their desire of it.
- 1Observ.
The point is clear, from the beginning of the world, the Church hath had the presence of Christ alway. For, either he hath been present in Sacrifices, or in some other things, signs of his presence, 1as in the Bush, or some more glorious manifestation of his presence,2 the Ark, and in the Cloud, 3and Pillar of fire, and after that more gloriously in the Temple: he hath ever been present with his Church in some sign or evidence of his presence, he delighted to be with the children of men. Sometimes before that, sometimes he assumed a body and afterward laid it down again until he came indeed to take our nature ⟨p. 39⟩upon him never to leave it again. But, here is meant, a spiritual presence most of all; which the Church in some sort ever had: now desires, and he offers:4 as being a God hearing prayer. And to instance in one place for all to see how ready Christ hath always been to show his presence to the Church upon their desire. What else is the burden of the 107. Psalm; but a repetition of Gods readiness to show his presence in the Church, upon their seeking unto him, and unfeigned desire of it: notwithstanding all their manifold provocations of him to anger: which is well summed up,