A12167:470
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.
Now For the sufferings of the Church it is like a Dove in this. The Dove is molested by all the §2Birds of prey, it being the common prey of all other ravenous birds. So the poor Church of God is persecuted and molested, Oh that I had wings like a Dove, &c (saith holy David) It is an old speech, and is for ever true, That Crows and such escape better then Doves. The punishment that should light on Ravens oft times it lights on Doves, thus Gods Dove, Gods Church is used.
Now For the sufferings of the Church it is like a Dove in this. The Dove is molested by all the §2Birds of prey, it being the common prey of all other ravenous birds. So the poore Church of God is persecuted and molested, Oh that I had wings like a Dove, &c (saith holy David) It is an old speech, and is for ever true, That Crowes and such escape better then Doves. The punishment that should light on Ravens oft times it lights on Doves, thus Gods Dove, Gods Church is used.
But, What defence hath Gods poor Church? why no defence. But
But, What defence hath Gods poore Church? why no defence. But
First, flight, even as the Dove hath nothing but flight, it hath no talents to wound, but it hath flight, so we are to fly to God as to our mountain, fly to the Ark that God may take us in. The Church of God hath no other refuge but to be housed in God and Christ,1 he is our Ark.