A12167:567
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.
3. That though Christ deal thus with us, Yet notwithstanding,1 he never leaves us wholly, without some footsteps of his saving grace, and everlasting love, some remainders and prints he leaves upon the soul. So as it lingers after him, and never rests till it find him, he always leaves something. There is never a total desertion: as we see here in Christs dealing, he puts his finger into the hole of the doo•e, he stands at the door, and leaves myrrh behind him, something in the heart that causeth a lingering, and restless affection in her towards Christ.
3. That though Christ deale thus with us, Yet notwithstanding,1 hee never leaves us wholly, without some footestepps of his saving grace, and everlasting love, some remainders and prints hee leaves upon the soule. So as it lingers after him, and never rests till it find him, he alwayes leaves something. There is never a totall desertion: as we see here in Christs dealing, hee puts his finger into the hole of the doo•e, he stands at the doore, and leaves myrrh behind him, something in the heart that causeth a lingering, aud restlesse affection in her towards Christ.
- 1Obser. 3.
4. That the Church by reason of this gracious dealing of Christ (leaving somewhat behind him) is sensible of her former unkindness,1 is restless ⟨p. 245⟩and stirs up her self to endeavour more and more, till she have recovered her former communion, and sweet fellowship with Christ, which she had before. She never gives over till Christ and she meet again in peace (as we shall see in the prosecution,) These be the chief points considerable.