A12167:58
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.
1. Because a Garden is taken out of the common wast ground, to be appropriated to a more particular use; so the Church of Christ is taken out of the ⟨p. 14⟩§1wilderness of this wast world, to a particular use.1 It is in respect of the rest, as Goshen to Egypt, wherein light was, when all else was in darkness. And indeed wherein doth the Church differ from other grounds, but that Christ hath taken it in? It is the same soil as other grounds are; but, he dresseth and fits it to bear spices and herbs.
1. Because a Garden is taken out of the common wast ground, to be appropriated to a more particular use; so the Church of Christ is taken out of the ⟨p. 14⟩§1wildernesse of this wast world, to a particular use.1 It is in respect of the rest, as Goshen to Egypt, wherein light was, when all else was in darknesse. And indeed wherein doth the Church differ from other grounds, but that Christ hath taken it in? It is the same soyle as other grounds are; but, he dresseth and fits it to beare spices and herbes.
2. In a garden nothing comes up naturally of it self, but as it is planted and set; so nothing is good in the heart, but as it is planted and set by the heavenly Husbandman.1 We need not sow the wilderness, for the seeds of weeds prosper naturally, the earth is a mother to weeds, but a stepmother to herbs. So weeds & passions grow too rank naturally, but nothing grows in the Church of it self, but as it is set by the hand of Christ, who is the Author, Dresser, and Pruner of this Garden.