A12167:139
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 when together with heat, there is strength and vigour, to carry us to spiritual duties, framing us to a holy communion with God, and one with another.
And when together with heate, there is strength and vigor, to carrie us to spirituall duties, framing us to a holy communion with God, and one with another.
And likewise when there is every way cheerfulness and enlargement of spirit; as it is with the creature when the Sun approacheth. For these causes, the Church desires Christ, that she may have more light, life, heat, vigour, strength, and that she may be more cheerful and fruitful in duties. The soul when it is once made spiritual, doth still desire, a further and further presence of Christ, to be made better and better.
And likewise when there is every way cheerefullnes and inlargement of spirit; as it is with the creature when the Sunne approacheth. For these causes, the Church desires Christ, that she may have more light, life, heate, vigor, strength, and that she may be more cheerefull and fruitfull in duties. The soule when it is once made spirituall, doth still desire, a further and further presence of Christ, to be made better and better.
What a comfort is this to Christians, that they have the presence of Christ so far forth, as shall make them happy, and as the earth will afford. Nothing but Heaven (or rather Christ in Heaven) it self, will content the child of God. In the mean time his presence in the Congregation, makes their souls (as it were) Heaven. If the Kings presence, who carries the Court with him, makes all places where he is a Court.1