A12167:153
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.
That The Church is the Spouse of Christ. 1It springs out of him, even as Eve taken out of Adams Rib; (so the Spouse of Christ) was taken out of his side (when it was pierced) the Church rose out of his Blood, and Death; for he Redeemed it, by satisfying divine justice: we being in such a Condition, that Christ must Redeem us, before he could wed us. First, he must be incarnate in our Nature, before he could be a fit husband; and then, because we were in Bondage and Captivity, we must be Redeemed before he could marry us: he purchased his Church with his own blood. 2Christ hath right to us, he bought us dearly.
That The Church is the Spouse of Christ. 1It springs out of him, even as Eve taken out of Adams Rib; (so the Spouse of Christ) was taken out of his side (when it was pierced) the Church rose out of his Bloud, and Death; for he Redeemed it, by satisfying divine justice: we being in such a Condition, that Christ must Redeeme us, before he could wed us. First, he must be incarnate in our Nature, before he could be a fit husband; and then, because we were in Bondage and Captivity, we must be Redeemed before hee could marrie us: hee purchased his Church with his owne bloud. 2Christ hath right to us, he bought us dearely.
- 1Observ.
- 2Act. 20. 28.
Again, another foundation of this Marriage between Christ and us, is Consent; he works us by his Spirit to yield to him, there must be consent on our part, which is not in us by nature, but wrought by his spirit, &c. We yield to take him upon his own terms; that is,