A12167:448
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.
You have many poor souls helped with this, who cannot tell whether Christ love them or no, but this helps them a little, they can find undoubted arguments of their love to Christ, his Image and servants, and of relishing the word, though they find much corruption; and this their love to divine things tells them by demonstrations from the effects, that Christ loves them, because there is no love to divine, and supernatural things without the love of Christ first. And the graces in our hearts, they are love tokens given to the spouse. Common favours he gives, as Abraham gifts to his servants and others, but special gifts to his spouse, if therefore there be any grace, a tender and soft heart, a prizing of heavenly things, love to Gods people and truth, then we may comfortly conclude Christ loves us, not only because they are reflections of Gods love, but because they are jewels and ornaments that Christ only bestows upon his spouse, and not §3upon reprobates,1 such precious jewels as these.2
You have many poore soules helped with this, who cannot tell whether Christ love them or noe, but this helpes them a little, they can find undoubted arguments of their love to Christ, his Image and servants, and of relishing the word, though they find much corruption; and this their love to divine things tells them by demonstrations from the effects, that Christ loves them, because there is no love to divine, and supernaturall things without the love of Christ first. And the graces in our hearts, they are love tokens given to the spouse. Common favours he gives, as Abraham gifts to his servants and others, but speciall gifts to his spouse, if therefore there be any grace, a tender and soft heart, a prizing of heavenly things, love to Gods people and truth, then we may comfortly conclude Christ loves us, not only because they are reflections of Gods love, but because they are iewels and ornaments that Christ onely bestowes upon his spouse, and not §3upon reprobates,1 such pretious iewells as these.2