A12167:179
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 is, I have taken Contentment in thy Graces together with acceptation, there is a delight, and God not only accepts, but he delights in •he Graces of his Children. All my delight (saith David) is in those that are excellent, but this is not all, Christ comes with an enlargement of what he finds.
That is, I have taken Contentment in thy Graces together with acceptation, there is a delight, and God not onely accepts, but he delights in •he Graces of his Children. All my delight (saith David) is in those that are excellent, but this is not all, Christ comes with an inlargement of what hee findes.
Christ comes, and comes not empty; whensoever he comes, but with abundance of Grace. If Saint Paul (who was but Christs instrument) could tell the Romans, 1I hope to come to you in abundance of Grace and comfort, because he was a blessed instrument to convey good from Christ to the people of God, as a Conduit-pipe? How much more shall Christ himself, where he is present, come with Graces and comfort? Those that have communion with Christ therefore, have a comfortable communion, being sure to have it inlarge•,2 for To him that hath shall be given. It is not only true of his last coming (when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead) I come, and my reward is with me; 3but also of all his intermediate comings, that are between, when he comes to the soul, he comes not only to accept what is there, but still with his reward with him, the increase of Grace, to recompense all that is good with the increase thereof. This made his presence so desired in the Gospel with those that had gracious hearts; They knew all was the better for Christ, the company the better, for he never left any house, or table where he was, but there was an increase of comfort, and