A12167:417
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.
Open to me my Sister, &c.
Hence Observe further,
That Christ hath never enough of his Church till he hath it in Heaven, 1where are indeed the kisses of the Spouse, and of Christ, In the mean while Open, Open still. Christ had the heart of the Spouse in some measure already, but yet there were some corners of the heart that were not so filled with Christ as they should be, he was not so much in her understanding, will, joy, delight, and love, as he would be: therefore, Open thy understanding more and more to embrace me, and divine truths that are offered thee; open thy love to solace ⟨p. 166⟩me more and more. For God in Christ having condescended to the terms of friendship nay to intimate terms of friendship in marriage with us. Therefore as the Church in her right temper, hath never enough of Christ, but desires further union, and communion still, It being the description of the people of God, that they love the appearance of Christ, as they loved his first appearance,2 and waited for the consolation of Israel; 3so they love his second appearing, and are never quiet, till he comes again in the flesh, to consummate the marriage begun here: so Christ also he is as desirous of them, yea they are his desires that breed their desires; Open to me my Sister, my love, my dove, &c. Again his Love and pity moves him to desire further to come into us: Christ knows what is in our hearts, if he be not there, there is that, that should not be there. What is in the brain where Christ is not? a deal of worldly projects nothing worth. What is in our joy, if Christ be not there? worldly joy, which cleaves to things worse then it self. If a man were anatomized, and seen into, he would be ashamed of himself, if he did see himself, Christ therefore out of pity to our souls, would not have the Devil there; Christ knows it is good for our souls to give way to him, therefore he useth all sweet allurements, Open to me my Sister, my love, &c. Christ hath never his fill, till he close with the soul perfectly, so that nothing be in the soul above him,