A12167:46
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.
Again, if Christ can raise or lay, bind up or §3let loose all kind of winds at his pleasure, then if means be wanting or fruitless; It is he that says to the clouds, drop not; and to the winds, blow not. Therefore, we must acknowledge him in want or plenty of means. The Spirit of Christ in the use of means is a free agent, sometimes blows strongly, sometimes more mildly, sometimes not at all, no creature hath these winds in a bag at command, and therefore it is wisdom to yield to the gales of the Spirit, though in some other things (as Solomon observes) it may hinder to observe the winds, 1yet here it is necessary and profitable to observe the winds of the Spirit.
Againe, if Christ can raise or lay, bind up or §3let loose all kind of winds at his pleasure, then if meanes be wanting or fruitlesse; It is he that sayes to the clouds, drop not; and to the winds, blow not. Therefore, we must acknowledge him in want or plenty of meanes. The Spirit of Christ in the use of meanes is a free agent, sometimes blowes strongly, somtimes more mildly, somtimes not at all, no creature hath these winds in a bag at command, and theresore it is wisdome to y•eld to the gales of the Spirit, though in some other things (as Salomon observes) it may hinder to observe the winds, 1yet here it is necessary and profitable to observe the winds of the Spirit.
Now for the clear understanding of what we are to speak of, let us first observe 1. Why the Spirit of God in the use of the means is compared to wind. And then, 2. Why the Church is compared to a Garden: which shall be handled in the proper place.