A12167:363
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.
That Christ still desires a further and further communion with his Church.1
- 1Obser.
Even as the true soul, that is touched with the Spirit desires nearer and nearer communion with Christ. So he seeks nearer and nearer communion with his Spouse, by all sanctified means; Christ hath never enough of the soul; he would have them more and more open to him, our hearts are for Christ, who hath the heaven of heavens, and the soul of a believing Christian for himself to dwell in, he contents not himself to be in heaven alone, but he will have our hearts. He knocks here, waits, speaks friendly and lovingly with such sweet words, My Love, my Dove, &c. We had a blessed Communion in the state of innocency, and shall have a glorious communion in heaven, when the marriage shall be consummated; but now the time of this life is but as the time of the contract, during which there are yet many mutual passages of love between him and his Spouse, a desire of mutual communion of either side. Christ desires further entertainment in his Churches heart and affection, that he might lodge, and dwell there: And likewise there is the like desire in the Church, (when she is in a right temper,) So that if any strangeness be between Christ, and any mans soul, that hath ⟨p. 137⟩tasted how good the Lord is, let him not blame Christ for it, for he delights not in strangeness; He that knocks and stands knocking, while his locks are bedewed with the drops of the night? Doth he delight in strangeness, that makes all this Love to a Christians soul? Certainly No.
Even as the true soule, that is touched with the Spirit desires neerer and neerer communion with Christ. So hee seekes neerer and neerer communion with his Spouse, by all sanctified meanes; Christ hath never enough of the soule; he would have them more and more open to him, our hearts are for Christ, who hath the heaven of heavens, and the soule of a believing Christian for himselfe to dwell in, he contents not himselfe to be in heaven alone, but he will have our hearts. Hee knocks heere, waites, speakes friendly and lovingly with such sweete wordes, My Love, my Dove, &c. We had a blessed Communion in the state of innocencie, and shall have a glorious communion in heaven, when the marriage shall be consummated; but now the time of this life is but as the time of the contract, during which there are yet many mutuall passages of love betweene him and his Spouse, a desire of mutuall communion of either side. Christ desires further entertainement in his Churches heart and affection, that hee might lodge, and dwell there: And likewise there is the like desire in the Church, (when shee is in a right temper,) So that if any strangenesse bee betweene Christ, and any mans soule, that hath