A12167:407
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 in the next words the Church sets down an acknowledgement of the carriage of Christ to her in this her sleepy condition. ⟨p. 160⟩It is the voice of my Beloved that knocks, saying, Open to me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, &c. She acknowledgeth Christs voice in her sleepy estate, and sets down his carriage thus, how he knocks, and then also speaks, Open to me, And then sets down what he suffered for her, My head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. And that nothing might be wanting that might move her heart to respect this his carriage towards her, he useth sweet titles, a loving compellation, Open to me (saith he,) my Sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, as so many cords of love to draw her, so here wants neither loving carriage, sweet words, nor patience; It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh.
Now in the next words the Church sets downe an acknowledgement of the carriage of Christ to her in this her sleepie condition. ⟨p. 160⟩It is the voice of my Beloved that knocks, saying, Open to mee my Sister, my Love, my Dove, &c. She acknowledgeth Christs voice in her sleepie estate, and sets downe his carriage thus, how hee knockes, and then also speakes, Open to mee, And then sets downe what hee suffered for her, My head is filled with dew, and my locks with the dropps of the night. And that nothing might be wanting that might moove her heart to respect this his carriage towards her, he useth sweete titles, a loving compellation, Open to mee (saith he,) my Sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, as so many cords of love to draw her, so here wants neither loving carriage, sweet words, nor patience; It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh.
The Church as she takes notice of the voice of Christ, so she doth also of the means he useth, and seeth his love in them all. It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, open to me, &c. Here is also an other distinguishing note of a sound Christian from an unsound, A sanctified spirit sees Christ in the means, this is, says the heart, the word of Christ, and this the, mercy of Christ to take such pains with my soul, to send his Ministers, to provide his ordinances,