A12167:202
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.
For there being so near a covenant between him and us, we are by his grace to perform all offices on our part, we invite him, and he inviteth ⟨p. 68⟩us. There is not the meanest Christian in whom there is not somewhat to welcome Christ withal, but Christs sends his provision before, and comes (as we say) to his own cost; he sends a spirit of faith, a spirit of love, a spirit of obedience. Some are content to invite others but are loth to go to others, as if it were against state: they would have wherewith to entertain Christ, but are unwilling to be beholding to Christ. 2. Some are content to have benefit by Christ, as his righteousness to cover them, &c. but they desire not grace to entertain Christ: but a heart truly gracious desireth both to delight in Christ, and that Christ may delight in it; it desireth grace together with mercy, holiness with happiness. Christ could not delight in his love to us, if we by his grace had not a love planted in our hearts to him. But to come to speak of this Feast.
For there being so neere a covenant betweene him and us, we are by his grace to performe all offices on our part, we invite him, and he inviteth ⟨p. 68⟩us. There is not the meanest Christian in whom there is not somewhat to welcome Christ withall, but Christs sends his provision before, and comes (as we say) to his owne cost; he sends a spirit of faith, a spirit of love, a spirit of obedience. Some are content to invite others but are loth to goe to others, as if it were against state: they would have wherewith to entertaine Christ, but are unwilling to be beholding to Christ. 2. Some are content to have benefit by Christ, as his righteousnesse to cover them, &c. but they desire not grace to entertaine Christ: but a heart truly gracious desireth both to delight in Christ, and that Christ may delight in it; it desireth grace together with mercy, holinesse with happinesse. Christ could not delight in his love to us, if we by his grace had not a love planted in our hearts to him. But to come to speake of this Feast.