A12167:194
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.
IT hath been showed how Christ and the Church were feasting together. She entreated his company to come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits: He according to her desire, was come, and ⟨p. 66⟩not only feasted on the Churches provision, but also brought more with him. Christ taking walks in his Garden (that is, his Church, and every particular soul, which is as a sweet Paradise for him to delight in) is much refreshed: and in witness of acceptance brings increase. What greater encouragement can we wish, then that we being by nature as the earth, since the fall accursed; should be the soil of Christs delight, planted and watered by him, and that what we yield, should be so well taken of him. We are under so gracious a covenant, that all our services are accepted: not only our honey, but honey-comb, not only our wine, but our milk, our weak services as well as our strong: because the spirit which we have from him sweeteneth all. As in Nature there is one common influence from heaven, but yet variety of flowers, Violets, Roses, Gill•flowers, Spices, all sweet in their several kind with a different kind of sweetness: so all graces have their beginning from the common influence of Christs spirit, though they differ one from another, and are all accepted of the Father of lights from whence they come.1 Christ wonders at his own grace,2 O woman great is thy faith, and Cant. 3. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the Merchant?
IT hath beene shewed how Christ and the Church were feasting together. Shee entreated his company to come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits: He according to her desire, was come, and ⟨p. 66⟩not onely feasted on the Churches provision, but also brought more with him. Christ taking walks in his Garden (that is, his Church, and every particular soule, which is as a sweet Paradise for him to delight in) is much refreshed: and in winesse of acceptance brings increase. What greater incouragement can we wish, then that we being by nature as the earth, since the fall accursed; should be the soile of Christs delight, planted and watered by him, and that what we yeeld, should be so well taken of him. We are under so gracious a covenant, that all our services are accepted: not onely our hony, but hony-combe, not onely our wine, but our milke, our weake services as well as our strong: because the spirit which we have from him sweetneth all. As in Nature there is one common influence from heaven, but yet variety of flowers, Violets, Roses, Gillflowers, Spices, all sweet in their severall kind with a different kind of sweetnesse: so all graces have their beginning from the common influence of Christs spirit, though they differ one from another, and are all accepted of the Father of lights from whence they come.