A12167:175
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.
3. His kindness is such as he takes all in good part, Christ is love and kindness it self. Why doth he give unto her the name of Spouse, and Sister but that he would be kind, and loving, and that we should conceive so of him? We see then the Graces of Christ accepting of us and what we do in his strength. Both we our selves are sacrifices, and what we offer is a sacrifice acceptable to God thorough him that offered himself as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour, from which God smells a savour of rest. God accepts of Christ first & then of us, and what comes from us in him. We may boldly pray as Psal. 20. 3. Lord remember all our offerings and accept all our sacrifices. The blessed Apostle Saint Paul doth will us,1 to offer up our selves a holy and acceptable Sacrifice to God, when we are once in Christ. In the Old Testament we have divers manifestations of this acceptation. He accepted the Sacrifice of Abel (as it ⟨p. 57⟩is thought) by fire from Heaven; and so Elijah's sacrifice, and Solomons by fire.2 So in the New Testament,3 he showed his acceptation of the Disciples meeting together,4 by a mighty wind and then filling them with the Holy Ghost. But now the declaration of the acceptation of our Persons, Graces, and Sacrifice, that we offer to him, is most in peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, and from a holy fire of love kindled by the spirit whereby our sacrifices are burned. In the incense of prayer how many sweet spices are burned together by this fire of faith working by love, as humility, and patience in submitting to Gods will, hope of a gracious answer, holiness, love to others, &c.
3. His kindnesse is such as he takes all in good part, Christ is love and kindnesse it selfe. Why doth he give unto her the name of Spouse, and Sister but that he would be kinde, and loving, and that we should conceave so of him? We see then the Graces of Christ accepting of us and what we do in his strength. Both we our selves are sacrifices, and what we offer is a sacrifice acceptable to God thorough him that offered himself as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour, from which God smells a savour of rest. God accepts of Christ first & then of us, and what comes from us in him. We may bouldly pray as