A12167:474
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.
My Undefiled.
My Vndefiled.
Undefiled is a high word to be applied to the Church of God here, for the Church groaning under infirmities to be counted perfect and undefiled: but Christ who judgeth aright of his Church, and knows best what she is; He yet thus judgeth of her. But, How is that? The Church is Undefiled (especially) in that it is the Spouse of Christ and clothed with the robes of his Righteousness. For there is an exchange so soon as ever we are united to Christ, our sins are upon him, and his Righteousness is made ours; and therefore in Christ the Church is undefiled. Christ himself the second Person is the first lovely thing next the Father, and in Christ all things as they have relation to Him are loved, as they are in Him. Christs humane Nature is next loved to the second Person, it is United, and is first pure, holy, and beloved, Then because the Church is Christ mystical, it is near to him (and in a manner) as near ⟨p. 195⟩[…] ⟨p. 196⟩[…] ⟨p. 197⟩as that sacred Body of his, both making up one Christ mystical, And so is amiable, and beloved even of God himself, who hath pure eyes: yet in this respect looks upon the Church as Undefiled.
Vndefiled is a high word to be applied to the Church of God here, for the Church groning under infirmities to be counted perfect and undefiled: but Christ who judgeth aright of his Church, and knowes best what she is; Hee yet thus judgeth of her. But, How is that? The Church is Vndefiled (especially) in that it is the Spouse of Christ and cloathed with the robes of his Righteousnesse. For there is an exchange so soone as ever we are united to Christ, our sinnes are upon him, and his Righteousnesse is made ours; and therefore in Christ the Church is undefiled. Christ himselfe the second Person is the first lovely thing next the Father, and in Christ all things as they have relation to Him are loved, as they are in Him. Christs humane Nature is next loved to the second Person, it is Vnited, and is first pure, holy, and beloved, Then because the Church is Christ misticall, it is neere to him (and in a manner) as neere