A12167:479
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.
Christ and his Church are not to be considered as two, when we speak of this undefilednesse, but as one. And the Church having Christ with all that is Christs, they have the field, and the pearl in the field together, and Christ giving himself to the Church, he gives his Righteousness, his perfection, and holiness, all is the Churches.
Christ and his Church are not to be considered as two, when we speake of this undefilednesse, but as one. And the Church having Christ with all that is Christs, they have the field, and the pearle in the field together, and Christ giving himselfe to the Church, he gives his Righteousnesse, his perfection, and holines, all is the Churches.
But how can it be the Churches, when it is not in the Church, but in Christ?
It is safe for the Church that it is in Christ who is perfect, and Undefiled; for us to make us appear so: and so it is in Christ the second Adam for our good: it is not in him as another person; but it is in him, as the Churches Head, that make both one Christ. The hand and the foot see not; but both hand and foot have benefit by the eye that sees for them. There is no member of the body understands, but the head does all for them. Put the case we have not absolute Righteousness, and undefilednesse in our own Natures and persons inhering in us. Yet we have it in Christ that is one with us, who hath it for our good. It is ours; For all the comfort, and good that we may have by it, and thereupon, The Church in Christ is undefiled: yea even then when it feels its own defilements. ⟨p. 198⟩And here ariseth that wondrous contradiction that is found in a believers apprehension. The nature of faith is to apprehend Righteousness, in the sense of sin, Happiness, in the sense of misery, and favour in the sense of displeasure