A12167:367
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.
You know what he says to the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door, and knock, So here, It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, therefore in such a case, search your own hearts, where if there be deadness, and desertion of Spirit; lay the blame upon your selves, and enter into a search of your own ways, and see what may be the cause.
You knovv what he saies to the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the doore, and knocke, So here, It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, therefore in such a case, search your ovvn hearts, vvhere if there be deadnesse, and disertion of Spirit; lay the blame upon your selves, and enter into a search of your ovvn vvayes, and see vvhat may be the cause.
Now to come more particularly to Christs carriage here knocking at the heart of the sleepy Church; 1We see, that Christ takes not the advantage, and forfeiture of the sins of his Church, to leave them altogether, but makes further and further love to them, though the Church be sleepy, Christ continues knocking. The Church of Laodicea was a luke-warm,2 proud, hypocritical Church, yet Behold, (saith Christ) I stand at the door and knock, and it was such a Church as was vainglorious, and conceited. I am rich and want nothing, when she was poor, blind, and naked. And here he doth not only stand knocking, but he with all suffereth indignities, the dew to fall upon him, which we shall speak more of hereafter. Christ therefore refuseth not weak sinners, he that commands, that we should receive him that is weak in the faith, and not cast him off from our fellowship, and company, vvill he ⟨p. 139⟩reject him that is weak, and sleepy? No, what Father will pass by, or neglect his Child for some failings, and weaknesses, Nature will move him to respect him as his Child.