A12167:467
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, this creature is a faithful creature, §3that is mainly here aimed at;1 it is faithful to the mate, So the Christian soul by the Spirit of God, it is made faithful to Christ, it keeps the judgement chaste, is not tainted with errors and sins, he keeps his affections chaste likewise, sets nothing in his heart above Christ, whom hath he in Heaven but him, and what is there in Earth he desires beside him. 2You know in the Revelation, the Spouse of Christ is brought in like a Virgin contracted, but the Romish Church like a whore. Therefore the Church of God must take heed of the Roman Church, for that is not a Dove, we must be Virgins, who must keep chaste souls to Christ, as you have it Reve. 14. 4. Those that follow the Lamb,3 wheresoever he goeth, they have not defiled themselves with women, the meaning is spiritual, namely that they have not defiled themselves with Idolatry and spiritual fornication: they have chaste hearts to Christ. So in this respect they resemble the Dove; These therefore that draw away from the love of religion to mixture, to be meretrices, and harlots in religion, they are not Christs doves, as far as they yield to this, it is an argument that they have false hearts; Christs Church is a Dove, she keeps close and inviolate to him.
Againe, this creature is a faithfull creature, §3that is mainely here aimed at;1 it is faithfull to the mate, So the Christian soule by the Spirit of God, it is made faithfull to Christ, it keepes the judgement chast, is not tainted with errors and sinnes, hee keepes his affections chast likewise, sets nothing in his heart above Christ, whom hath hee in Heaven but him, and what is there in Earth hee desires beside him. 2You know in the Revelation, the Spouse of Christ is brought in like a Virgin contracted, but the Romish Church like a whore. Therefore the Church of God must take heed of the Roman Church, for that is not a Dove, wee must be Virgins, who must keepe chast soules to Christ, as you have it Reve. 14. 4. Those that follow the Lamb,