A12167:35
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.
CANT. IV. XVI. Awake, O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out; let my Beloved come into his Garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
And therefore, by reason of connection of this Chapter with the former Verse, we will first speak somewhat of it briefly, only to make way for that which follows. The words contain 1. A turning of Christs speech to the winds to blow upon his Garden: with the End, why? That the Spices there of may flow out. 2. We have an invitation of Christ by the Church, to come into his Garden, with the End, To eat his pleasant fruits.
And therefore, by reason of connexion of this Chapter with the former Verse, we will first speake somwhat of it briefly, onely to make way for that which followes. The words containe 1. A turning of Christs speech to the winds to blow upon his Garden: with the End, why? That the Spices there of may flow out. 2. We have an invitation of Christ by the Church, to come into his Garden, with the End, To eat his pleasant fruits.
It may be a Question, whether this Command be the words of Christ, 1or, the desire of his Spouse. The words are spoken by Christ, 2because he calls it (My Garden) and the Church after, invites him to eat of (His) pleasant fruits, not of (Hers) yet the words may be likewise, an answer, to a former secret desire of the Church; whereof the order is this. The Church being sensible of some deadness of Spirit; secretly desires some further