A12167:224
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.
In some ages of the Church the feasts that Christ hath made have been more solemn and sumptuous then in other, thereafter as Christ hath been more or less clearly and generally manifested. At Christs first coming there was a greater feast then before: because the riches of Gods love in Christ were then laid open, and the pale of the Church was enlarged by the coming in of the Gentiles: so will there be a royal feast, when the Jews shall be converted.1 Blessed then shall those be that shall be called to the supper of the Lamb. Suppers are in the end of the day, and this supper shall be furnished towards the end of the world.
In some ages of the Church the feasts that Christ hath made have beene more solemne and sumptuous then in other, thereafter as Christ hath been more or lesse cleerely and generally manifested. At Christs first comming there was a greater feast then before: because the riches of Gods love in Christ were then layd open, and the pale of the Church was i•larged by the comming in of the Gentiles: so will there be a royall feast, when the Iewes shall be converted.1 Blessed then shall those be that shall be called to the supper of the Lamb. Suppers are in the end of the day, and this supper shall be furnisht towards the end of the world.
But then will be the true magnificent supper, when all that belong to Gods election shall meet together, and feed upon that heavenly Manna for ever: then there will be nothing but marrow it self, and wine without all dregs; in all our contentments here there is some mixture of the contrary; then nothing but pure quintessence. In the mean time he lets fall some Manna in this