A12167:42
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.
Which may comfort all those that are Christs, 1that they are under one that hath all creatures at his beck under him, to do them service, and at his check to do them no harm. This drew the Disciples in admiration to say, What manner of man is this,2 that even the winds and the seas obey him? And cannot the same power still the winds and waves of the Churches and States, and cause a sudden calm, if (as the Disciples) we awake him with our Prayers.
Which may comfort all those that are Christs, 1that they are under one that hath all creatures at his becke under him, to do them service, and at his checke to do them no harme. This drew the Disciples in admiration to say, What manner of man is this,2 that even the winds and the seas obey him? And cannot the same power still the winds and waves of the Churches and States, and cause a sodaine clame, if (as the Disciples) we awake him with our Prayers.
- 1Use.Vse.
- 2Mat. 8. 27.
Secondly, we see here, that Christ speaks to winds contrary one to another, both in regard of the coasts from whence they blow, and in their quality: but both agree in this, that both are necessary for the Garden: where we see, That, The courses that Christ takes,1 and the means that he uses with his Church, may seem contrary, but by a wie ordering all agree in the wholesome issue. A prosperous and an afflicted condition are contrary, a mild and a sharp course may seem to cross one another. Yet, sweetly they agree in this, that as the Church needeth both, so Christ uses both for the Churches good. The North is a nipping wind, and the South a cherishing wind, therefore the Southwind is the welcomer and sweeter after the Northwind hath blown. But howsoever, all things are ours, Paul, Apollos, Cephas, things present and to come,