A12167:434
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.
2. Again, He loves us, because he sees his own Graces in us, he loves what is his in us. Before we be actually his, he loves us with a love of good will, to wish all good to us; But when we have any thing of his Spirit, that our natures are altered and changed, he loves us with a love of the intimatest friendship; with the love of an Head, Husband, Friend, and what we can imagine; he loves his own Image. Paul saith,1 That the Wife is the glory of her Husband; because what soever is in a good Husband, the Wife expresseth it by reflection. So the Church is the glory of Christ, she reflects his excellencies, though in a weak measure, they ⟨p. 173⟩show forth his Virtues or praises, as Peter speaks, thus he sees his own Image in her, and the Holy Ghost in his Church, he loves her, and these in her: so as whether we regard the Father, or himself, or his Spirit, the Church is his Love.
2. Againe, Hee loves us, because he sees his owne Graces in us, he loves what is his in us. Before we be actually his, he loves us with a love of good will, to wish all good to us; But when we have any thing of his Spirit, that our natures are altered and changed, he loves us with a love of the intimatest friendship; with the love of an Head, Husband, Friend, and what we can imagine; hee loves his owne Image. Paul saith,1 That the Wife is the glorie of her Husband; because what soever is in a good Husband, the Wife expresseth it by reflection. So the Church is the glory of Christ, shee reflects his excellencies, though in a weake measure, they ⟨p. 173⟩shew forth his Vertues or prayses, as Peter speakes, thus hee sees his owne Image in her, and the Holy Ghost in his Church, hee loves her, and these in her: so as whether we regard the Father, or himselfe, or his Spirit, the Church is his Love.