A12167:368
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.
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.
Novv to come more particularly to Christs carriage here knocking at the heart of the sleepie Church; 1We see, that Christ takes not the advantage, and forfeiture of the sinnes of his Church, to leave them altogether, but makes further and further love to them, though the Church be sleepie, Christ continues knocking. The Church of Laodicea vvas a luke-vvarme,2 proud, hypocriticall Church, yet Behold, (saith Christ) I stand at the doore and knocke, and it vvas such a Church as vvas vaineglorious, and conceited. I am rich and want nothing, when shee was poore, blind, and naked. And here he doth not onely stand knocking, but he vvith all suffereth indignities, the dew to fall upon him, which we shall speake more of hereafter. Christ therefore refuseth not vveake sinners, he that commands, that we should receive him that is weake in the faith, and not cast him off from our fellowship, and companie, vvill he ⟨p. 139⟩