A12167:26
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.
The Mutual Joys, and Mutual Praises betwixt Christ and his Church.
The Mutuall Ioyes, and Mutuall Praises betwixt Christ and his Church.
And as Christ and his Church, are the greatest persons that partake of humane nature, so whatsoever is excellent in the whole world, is borrowed to set out the excellencies of these two great Lovers.
It is called Solomons Song, who next unto Christ, was the greatest Son of wisdom that ever the Church bred: whose understanding, as it was large as the sand of the Sea, so his Affections, especially that of Love, was as large: as we may see by his many wives, and by the delight he sought to take in whatsoever nature could afford. Which affection of Love in him misplaced, had been his undoing, but that he was one beloved of God; who by his Spirit raised his soul to lovely Objects of a higher Nature. Here in this argument there is no danger for the deepest wit, or the largest affection (yea of a Solomon) to over-reach: for the knowledge of the love of Christ to his Church, is above all knowledge, The Angels themselves may admire it,1 though they cannot comprehend it. It may well therefore be called the Song of Solomon; The most excellent Song, of a man of the highest conceit, and deepest apprehension, and of the highest matters, The Intercourse betwixt Christ the Highest Lord of Lords, and his best beloved contracted Spouse.